Manama, March 21: Bahrain’s main opposition groups, led by Al Wefaq party, have rejected King Hamad’s offer of talks, saying the government should comply with the protesters’ demands.
The groups said on Sunday they would not negotiate with the government until all the troops are pulled off the streets, the prisoners are freed and the government guarantees political reforms.
The conditions set for talks last month, included the creation of a government not dominated by members of the Sunni royal family and the establishment of an elected council to redraft the constitution.
“Bahrain needs a new agreement between the people and the government… This system is broken and failed. We need a new system and a new constitution,” Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman told a news conference.
“Today we say to the government you took the wrong decision when you let the army come into the streets… We tried our best to solve our problems inside Bahrain. We don’t want big problems in this small country,” he added.
Protesters have been violently suppressed by Bahraini security forces aided by over 1,000 Saudi troops and 500 United Arab Emirates police.
At least 13 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured in the crackdown.
——–Agencies