Bahrainis rally on anniversary

MANAMA // Security forces fanned out across Bahrain in unprecedented numbers yesterday as Shiites marked the anniversary of their uprising against the country's Sunni rulers.

Authorities sent reinforcements and armoured vehicles to the predominantly Shiite villages around the capital Manama to prevent people from gathering and answering the call of the main opposition movement, Al Wefaq. The government threatened to take legal action against the organisers of Monday's protests that had turned violent.

This could herald a new challenge for Al Wefaq, which until last year was tolerated but that has suffered sporadic prosecutions and detentions after it took the lead in last year's protests.

At least 40 people have been killed during a year of upheaval in Bahrain.

An American rights group, Witness Bahrain, said six US citizens were detained during yesterday's demonstrations.

The kingdom's ruling dynasty has promised reforms to end the turmoil, although it has refused to make the far-reaching changes demanded by the protesters and Al Wefaq. These include ending the monarchy's ability to select the government, set state policies and appoint most of parliament.

Yesterday police fired tear gas at protesters in an attempt to pre-empt a repeat of the marches the night before, in which protesters made their strongest attempt in months to retake the city's central roundabout.

Al Farouq Junction, formerly Pearl Square, had served as the centre of weeks of anti-government protests last year, and its reoccupation would be a major boost for the movement.

The government statement said many protesters had on Monday left a pre-authorised route in Manama, turning it into a riot after police arrived. It said Al Wefaq was responsible for the violence, because it failed to "control the crowd and jeopardised the safety of the people along a busy main road".

Legal procedures would be taken against the organisers of the march, said the statement.

Al Wefaq rejected the claim and said the "unfounded accusations" were part of the rulers' efforts to discredit the group.

"They have used excessive force against the people throughout all this time, but people keep coming back to the streets to insist on their demand to have a role in the decisions about their country," said Abdul Jalil Khalil, a former Al Wefaq parliamentarian.

Shiites account for about 70 per cent of Bahrain's 525,000 people, but say they have faced decades of discrimination and have been blocked from top political and security posts.

"After years of broken promises for change, Bahrain exploded last year," Mr Khalil said. "We are still here and we want a serious solution and meaningful reform."

Sunni rulers made token concessions in June ahead of US-backed reconciliation talks between the monarchy and the opposition. A national dialogue began in July, but Al Wefaq delegates pulled out, saying the government was not willing to discuss reform.

Since, there have been no talks between the monarchy and the opposition, Mr Khalil said. Street battles between security forces and protesters flare almost every day in the predominantly Shiite villages around the capital.