Saturday, March 12, 2011

In Bahrain, the opposition is preparing to march on the palace

The opposition and radical youth movements have to walk on the royal palace in Bahrain on Friday, raising fears of violence in the kingdom's Sunni majority Shiite population in the Gulf. Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has been rocked last month by an unprecedented protest movement since the 1990s, inspired by Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.

Seven people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces and thousands of activists of youth movement, 14-February are still camped on the Place de la Perle in Manama, the epicenter of the dispute, but the opposition is more increasingly divided. Moderates have urged more radical opponents to abandon their march on the royal palace in Riffa, scheduled to begin at 15 am local 30 (13 h 30 to Paris).

They fear clashes between protesters and government supporters. Part of the youth movement, 14-February refused to take part in the demonstration, fearing "innocent victims". But another group expressed its determination to march. "It became clear that the regime of Khalifa and his cohorts do not attach the same value in the blood of natives of this land to its monopoly of power, while robbing the rich people and repressing and denying citizens their basic rights, "he said in a statement.

This event coincides with a call for a day of protest in Saudi Arabia, where public gatherings are banned. Thursday night, the Saudi police dispersed a demonstration in the eastern province of Arabia, which also has a large Shiite population and shares its border with Bahrain. Both Sunni kingdoms monitor this wave of protest is concerned.

On Thursday, the Gulf Cooperation Council has pledged 20 billion dollars for Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, which is also faced with the challenge.

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