Flag-waving protesters flood capital after king’s pledge from king

Upbeat, determined demonstrators took over Manama for the day, circling the Bahrain Mall and the financial district, symbols of the country’s recent prosperity, in a march to the heart of the protest at Pearl Square.

“Egypt, Tunisia, are we any different?” marchers chanted, calling for the Sunni rulers they accuse of discriminating against the island’s Shiite majority to fall as the presidents of two other Arab countries have in recent weeks.

Helicopters hovered overhead but security forces offered no resistance after opening fire on protesters last week, and the size of the event rivalled any of the major demonstrations so far in the eight-day uprising.

Earlier Bahrain’s king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa offered to release several political prisoners in his latest attempt to appease the demonstrators. It underlined how much the absolute rulers want to kickstart reform talks with opposition leaders, and the huge march in a nation of 525,000 citizens showed how much they need to.

The exact number of prisoners to be freed remains unclear but they will include some of the 25 Shiite activists on trial for allegedly plotting against the monarchy.

Two of those in the case are being tried in their absence, including prominent opposition leader Hassan Meshaima, who has been in self-exile in London since last year. His return to Bahrain was imminent, his supporters said.

His presence could bolster opposition forces seeking a harder line against the Bahrain dynasty, including some who have called for the complete removal of the king and the family that has ruled for more than 200 years.

A small group of Bahraini army officers joined the ranks of protesters to demand reforms and the resignation of the current government.

“What we did to the people was not heroic,” said one, Yeussif Najri.

“We ask the people to forgive us, we ask the people for forgiveness.”

The government said that the overall death toll was seven from last week’s clashes. The attacks on protesters have brought stinging denunciations from Bahrain’s Western allies.