Manama, February 28: The US president has called for talks between the Bahraini government and the opposition as pro-democracy demonstrators continue their campaign for change in the Persian Gulf country.
“The United States supports the national dialogue initiative led by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, and encourages a process that is meaningful, inclusive, non-sectarian, and responsive to the people of Bahrain,” Barack Obama said in a statement on Sunday. Obama says the dialogue is an “opportunity for meaningful reform.”
But, the protesters, camping out near Pearl Square in the capital Manama, are demanding the removal of the monarchy system in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state.
Facing mass anti-government protests during the past two week, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa on Sunday reshuffled his cabinet.
King Hamad also released political prisoners and allowed an exiled opposition leader to return to Bahrain after to appease the opposition.
Carrying Bahraini flags, pro-democracy protesters on Sunday shouted anti-government slogans and called for long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa to step down.
A group of doctors and nurses also joined the protesters on Sunday to call for political reform in the country which is headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in a region.
At least seven people have lost their lives and hundreds wounded after protests started in Bahrain fourteen days ago.
——–Agencies