ABU DHABI — Bahrain has braced for the prospect of massive
anti-regime protests.
Bahraini opposition groups plans to stage a series of demonstrations to
demand constitutional changes, Middle East Newsline reported. The groups have been dominated by Shi'ites,
who have sought equal rights in the Sunni-led kingdom.
Opposition sources said the demonstrations would be led by the
Shi'ite-dominated Islamic Wefaq Society, the largest opposition group and
accused by authorities of being linked to Iran. They said the first protests
would be launched in the Shi'ite-populated island of Sitra in western
Bahrain on Friday.
"The idea is to unite all the opposition groups in demonstrations that
would reflect the protests in Egypt and Lebanon," an opposition source said.
The rally in Sitra was expected to draw at least 20,000 people, the
sources said. They raised the prospect that authorities would ban the
protest.
The protest campaign would seek to pressure the kingdom to issue a new
constitution that would guarantee majority rule. The campaign would seek to
bolster the authority of parliament and limit the Shura Council to an
advisory role.
At the same time, Wefaq planned to send delegations to the West to call
for equal rights between Shi'ites and Sunnis. But opposition sources said
the campaign would not try to divide the kingdom along sectarian lines.