The marches followed a sermon by a senior Shiite cleric who said that any dialogue between anti-government protesters and the kingdom’s rulers must lead to clear reforms and changes.
In the sermon at a Shiite village mosque in the anti-government hotbed of Diraz, Imam Isa Qassim called for talks that are “clear, comprehensive and productive.” He said demonstrators want guarantees on what would be accomplished by the talks.
“We don’t want dialogue for the sake of dialogue, we don’t want dialogue to waste time or to absorb anger,” Qassim told worshippers. “We want a meaningful, viable and sustainable process. ... We seek a fundamental change to the current political process based on legitimate demands.”
Bahrain’s Sunni rulers have offered to talk with Shiite opposition groups to try to defuse the showdown, but the opposition has been slow to answer the call.
The opposition appears split in its aims, with some seeking greater democratic reforms, including the removal of the long-serving prime minister — the king’s uncle.
Others, however, are demanding the ouster of the ruling regime altogether.
Bahrain king dismisses three Cabinet ministers - Arab News
