Opposition pulls out of talks in Bahrain amid reforms row

The protests demanding democratic reforms began in February – inspired by the wider Arab uprisings – and have been the gravest challenge to any Gulf ruler in decades. It poses a dilemma for America because the island nation is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Khalil al-Marzooq, a senior member of Al Wefaq party and the leader of its delegation, said the party’s top leaders decided to withdraw from the so-called national dialogue after concluding that the government was not interested in political reform.

“They have disregarded the opposition’s efforts to make the talks meaningful and we were not given a chance to put our demands for discussion,” he said. Al Wefaq was given only five of 300 seats at government-designed talks.

The government did not immediately comment on Wefaq’s decision to withdraw from the talks, which started on July 2.

The majority Shiites who claim they suffer systematic discrimination at the hands of the Sunni dynasty ruling Bahrain.

Sectarian tensions in the Gulf kingdom have deepened during five months of protests and harsh security crackdowns that killed at least 33 people.

Hundreds of protesters, activists and Shiite doctors and lawyers remain imprisoned awaiting trial on charges ranging from trying to topple the government to participating in illegal protests.

Amid the crackdowns, Al Wefaq staged a mass resignation of its 18 lawmakers in the 40-member lower house of parliament.

The government has not relented on opposition demands to free all detainees and clear others convicted of charges connected to the protests, including eight prominent activists sentenced to life in prison last month.

Meanwhile, Syrian tanks and troops stormed the town of Zabadani early yesterday.

Zabadani has witnessed a string of protests calling for the downfall of President Bashar Assad’s regime. Authorities have detained more than 500 people since Friday, when Syrians across the country turned out for the largest protests since the revolt began.

Syrian authorities also detained leading opposition figure Ali Abdullah in a Damascus suburb yesterday morning. Mr Abdullah, 61, was released following a pardon on May 30 after four years in jail.