MANAMA, (Reuters) – Shi’ite protesters camped out in Bahrain’s capital to press their demands for political change after a day of unrest inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt.
A funeral is planned this morning for a man shot dead when police and mourners clashed yesterday at a funeral procession for Ali Mushaima, a 22-year-old killed the day before in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
As evening fell yesterday, the number of protesters in the encampment at Bahrain’s Pearl Roundabout dwindled to around 1,000 from an earlier 2,000, according to witnesses.
It remained to be seen whether the number would rise or fall during today. Some people will have to return to work, after a public holiday yesterday to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
The demonstrators from Bahrain’s Shi’ite majority say the ruling Sunni minority shuts them out of housing, healthcare and government jobs. The main Shi’ite opposition bloc Wefaq, which boycotted parliament to protest the clampdown by Sunni security forces, said it would hold talks with the government today.
