Thousands of Bahrainis march against regime

Manama, Feb 26 (AFP) Thousands demonstrators todaymarched in Manama to demand the Sunni ruling regime standdown, upping pressure on the government one day after tens ofthousands flooded the streets.

"Leave Hamad, leave Hamad" and "Down Hamad, downHamad," chanted the flag-waving demonstrators as they pouredout of Pearl Square, epicentre of the protests which began onFebruary 14.

"The people want to topple the regime," they roared asthey formed a procession towards a major highway, blockingtraffic.

Manama''s Pearl Square has been transformed into amakeshift camp where protesters have kept daily kept vigil inhundreds of tents.

Official opposition groups have stopped short ofdemanding outright regime change, instead calling for majorreforms, including an elected prime minister and the creationof a "real" constitutional monarchy.

Seven people were killed last week in a police raid ona protests against the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, which hasruled for some 200 years in the majority Shiite kingdom. (AFP)