MANAMA // Tens of thousands of Bahrainis returned to Pearl Square in the centre of the capital yesterday after the kingdom's crown prince ordered security forces to leave the area.
The government ordered tanks and armoured personnel carriers positioned around the square to return to their bases.
"That's a very positive step," said Jasim Hussain, a member of al Wefaq, the main opposition bloc that quit parliament on Thursday. "They're trying to ease the tensions. I don't know whether it will be sufficient."
Al Wefaq had earlier rejected the king's offer of dialogue. They said troops must be withdrawn first, among other conditions.
Protesters approached the square from various directions yesterday, after it was sealed off on Thursday. Riot police at first fired tear gas but they were ultimately unsuccessful at holding back crowds that swelled into the thousands, as they cheered and ran in to the square. By late afternoon, men, women and children had packed the large traffic roundabout and spilled into surrounding streets.
Some people handed out flowers and cakes while others began erecting tents and establishing food distribution points and medical treatment areas.
"I came back here with my family because I need a future for my babies," said Zuhair Ibrahim, who was seated on the ground with his two sons, aged two and four.
Mohammed Nimah, a 39-year-old banker from Manama who said he was one of the organisers of the protests, said the crowds were all there "under the Bahraini flag".
"We died to come here and we are going to stay," he said. "Re-entering the square was the first step to victory and was a clear message to the government that you can't kill people and take their rights. We come in peace."
Mansour al Jamri, the editor in chief of the Bahraini newspaper Al Wasat, described yesterday's events as a "momentous day".
"No one could imagine that the youth could achieve this," said Mr al Jamri, who was standing at the at the centre of the square by the large, white monument to the country's pearl-diving heritage.
“They have forced an agenda of change and forced the government to come down to discuss a political agenda in a serious way.”
On Friday, troops opened fire on marchers streaming towards the square, injuring more than 80.
At least four people were killed and 230 wounded on Thursdy when they opened fire with tear gas, rubber bullets and buckshot on protesters who had been camping out in Pearl Square. After security forces were withdrawn yesterday, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa ordered them to avoid demonstrators.
The crown prince, who is deputy commander of the armed forces, ordered “all security forces to immediately withdraw from assembly areas”. He also asked the “crowds to leave” to start a “new phase of national action that would bring together all parties”.
A few hours earlier, on state television, the crown prince had announced “a day of mourning for our lost sons”.
Yesterday, as dusk fell and people lined up for evening prayer at Pearl Square, a group lit candles for those killed in the past week. There was jubiliation among many protesters, but some still expressed concerns about their safety.
“I am not feeling safe any more,” said Delal Zayed, 33, from Isa Town, as a helicopter hovered overhead. “The trust between the government and the people is gone and there is a feeling that they might attack again.”
On Friday, King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa offered a national dialogue with all parties to try to end the turmoil in which at least six people have been killed and hundreds wounded.
The US president, Barack Obama, spoke to the king on Friday, urging the government to show restraint and respect the rights of its people.
zconstantine@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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Company%20profile
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
