Gulf | Bahrain
Society calls for peaceful means to tackle crisis in Bahrain
Bahrain's largest political society has called for the use of peaceful means and dialogue to overcome the crisis pitting rioters against security forces - which has gripped villages for several nights.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau chief
- Published: 00:00 May 23, 2007
Manama: Bahrain's largest political society has called for the use of peaceful means and dialogue to overcome the crisis pitting rioters against security forces - which has gripped villages for several nights.
"We deplore the dramatic development of the situation and we do not believe that any sensible person would like it to continue," Shaikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al Wefaq, said on Monday. "There are serious consequences to the current standoff between the police and the rioters and everyone is suffering."
Bahrain has witnessed a dramatic surge of violence in several villages between security forces and rioters who initially protested against the planned trial of two activists, Hassan Mush-aima and Abdulhadi Khawaja, charged with disseminating false information and undermining stability.
The case against them was dropped by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on Friday following a request by Al Wefaq, but the clashes continued unabated.
Al Wefaq, the largest bloc in the parliament, subsequently came under heavy criticism by the rioters who claimed that they wanted to exert pressure on the government in order to make it more accommodating towards their demands.
Stability
But Shaikh Ali said, at a press conference, that the clashes needed to end, claiming that their "continuation could undermine stability and would have a negative effect on the economy. The whole nation will suffer from the possible flight of investments because of this situation. It will not be just the government as some people claim. The investors, the employees and the unemployed will also suffer," said the head of the 17-member bloc at the Council of Representatives.
"People should understand that misunderstandings and divergences should be addressed only politically and peacefully because those who believe that they can twist the arm of the government are wrong, particularly that no religious leader has condoned the acts of arson and blowing up gas cylinders," he said.
On Monday evening, three masked assailants hurled Molotov cocktails at a police car, setting it ablaze and injuring three policemen, near Nuwaidrat, a village 15 kilometres south of Manama.
The Interior Ministry said it was a terrorist attack and that it was looking for the perpetrators.
"Most of those who are involved in the protests are school students and we believe that they should devote their time to their exams," Shaikh Ali Salman said.
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