Bahrain Crown Prince pledges inclusive dialogue

Manama: The Bahraini government on Friday urged protesters to go home and pledged to hold an inclusive national dialogue as soon as possible.

Speaking on Bahraini TV, Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa said the calm must be restored immediately.

He warned of a deep division along sectarian lines and hinted that could lead to civil strife.

"I call upon all of you, please let us restore the calm and a I promise we will have a national dialogue without any condition or limit. The only condition is that we respect and accept each other," he said.

The Crown Prince hinted that the army and security forces will be pulled off the streets as soon as "we restore normalcy".

Eyewitnesses and doctors in Sulmaniya hospital told Gulf News that Bahraini Defence Force personnel opened fire on more than 2,000 demonstrators near Pearl Roundabout on Friday. At least two people, possibly four, were shot dead with several wounded in the attack that took place around 5.45pm.

Armoured personnel carriers and tanks were parked on every approach to the roundabout.