5th February 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain invites opposition to February 10 reconciliation talks
Bahrain will begin reconciliation talks on Sunday with opposition groups, the government said on Tuesday, in an effort to end nearly two years of strife over demands for more democracy in the U.S.allied Gulf Arab state. Opposition groups contacted by Reuters suggested they would attend the talks but cited differences with the government over the goal of the dialogue that could undermine its effectiveness. The small island kingdom, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, has been in ferment since protests erupted in early 2011 led by majority Shi'ite Muslims demanding a constitutional monarchy with an elected government. Read More On Monday, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa, the justice minister, said that the dialogue would bring together eight participants from the opposition alliance, eight from the National Alliance and eight from the two chambers of the bicameral parliament. The government would send three or four ministers, including Shaikh Khalid, to the talks, but their role could be conned to moderating the dialogue in order to allow the participants to talk with one another. Read More

Bahrain talks off to shaky start

Talks aimed at resolving political unrest in the Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain look set to get off to an uncertain start. The six opposition societies have agreed to meet with other groups on Sunday in a bid to end nearly two years of unrest.

The country's justice minister has said he will serve as a moderator and government representative. But the main opposition party al-Wefaq has already voiced grave doubts about a positive outcome. Khalil al-Marzook, a senior member of the party told the BBC the ruling family was risking "dragging the country into an ambush of more sectarianism". Read More been stepping up their crackdowns on dissent for the last 2 years. Calls for more rights and Democracy are increasingly met with arrests and brutal force, as the conservative monarchs refuse to concede. While the West is accused of turning a blind eye to violations by its key Arab allies, as Lucy Kafanov reports. Read More

Bahraini parties aim to heal nation during talks

With less than a week left before the scheduled start of the national dialogue in Bahrain, all parties have reiterated their readiness to engage in the talks. However, their statements also included reserved caution towards the condence-building meeting on February 10 aiming to heal the wounds that have scarred the Bahraini society for several months.

Kingdoms of Loathing: Kuwait & Bahrain step up crackdown on opposition

The Gulf kingdoms of Bahrain and Kuwait are seeing fresh public outcries against the country's unelected rulers, who have