Is Egypt-like scenario being repeated in Bahrain?

Manama, Feb 17: There's trouble in the Kingdom and everybody's blaming the Prime Minister. No, we are not trying to tell you a fable from yore. This is exactly the situation that is unfolding in Bahrain. While many call it a trickle-down effect of Egypt, there is a major uprising unfolding in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The centre of protests is the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, Bahrain after protestors gathered to voice their anger over the lack of pro-people policies by the ruling government. The protests, followed by violence led to the death of 3 people. There were tear-gases being fired, rubber bullets and violence in general being unleashed on the gathered people.

The last straw was when the police let loose force on the otherwise peaceful protests. There were around 1000 people gathered near the roundabout. They have camped in the area recreating a Tahrir Square-like scene. Police in a totally unprovoked action initiated an assault on those crying anti-government slogans.

Bahrain is seeing the first of such large protests. There have been internal riots but nothing of such magnitude has ever surfaced from the tiny island nation. There has been strong feelings against the ruling monarchy headed by the Al Khalifa family since the last four decades.

"Public security forces carried out this morning the evacuation of the crowd and the protesters from Pearl Square after exhausting all opportunities for dialogue with them, some of them have responded and left quietly, while others refused to comply with the law, which called to intervene in order to disperse them," the Bahrain News Agency reported.

The protestors demanded the ouster of the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He is the uncle of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Just yesterday, King Hamad had spoken on national television requesting the public to maintain law and order and that he would continue with his pro-people policies and the protestors issues addressed duly.

The Bahrain uprising will have to be seen in a new light because of the heavy US military presence in the island nation. The kingdom hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and boasts of a major presence for the US in the Middle East.

OneIndia News