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Bahrain political players begin fresh round of talks

February 10, 2013 11:46
Bahrain's key political players began a new round of talks on Sunday to try to resolve the kingdom's two-year crisis, after opposition groups made a last-minute decision to join a national dialogue. Participants gathered at a tourist resort south of Manama, where the first session of the dialogue -- which will convene three times a week -- were being held behind closed doors, an AFP correspondent said. Taking part were 27 government representatives, including three ministers, eight members of the opposition, and members of pro-government Sunni political groups.

Bahrain political players begin fresh round of talks

February 10, 2013 11:46
Bahrain's key political players were to begin a new round of talks on Sunday to try to resolve the kingdom's two-year crisis, after opposition groups made a last-minute decision to join a national dialogue. Participants gathered at a tourist resort south of Manama, where the first session of the dialogue -- which will convene three times a week -- were to be held behind closed doors. Taking part were 27 government representatives, including three ministers, eight members of the opposition, and members of pro-government Sunni political groups.

Bahrainis start first reconciliation talks since July 2011

February 10, 2013 10:45
By Angus McDowall MANAMA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Bahrain's government and opposition began reconciliation talks on Sunday for the first time since July 2011 to try to end two years of political deadlock in the strategically vital Gulf Arab island kingdom. Home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, the tiny state has been hit by unrest since mass pro-democracy protests in early 2011, becoming a front line in a region-wide tussle for influence between Shi'ite Muslim Iran and Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain opposition to join national dialogue

February 10, 2013 09:15
Bahrain's Shiite opposition groups, including the major Al-Wefaq bloc, have agreed to attend the first session of the national dialogue set to begin later Sunday, they announced following a meeting. "The opposition will attend Sunday's session to discuss the nine points" on which they had sought clarifications from the government, leading opposition member Hasan Aali told reporters after a meeting at Al-Wefaq headquarters. Based on the response the opposition receives on their queries, they will decide "whether or not to continue the dialogue."

Bahrain opposition joins Bahrain dialogue

February 10, 2013 08:46
Bahrain's Shiite opposition groups, including the major Al-Wefaq bloc, have agreed to attend the first session of the national dialogue set to begin later Sunday, they announced following a meeting. "The opposition will attend Sunday's session to discuss the nine points" on which they had sought clarifications from the government, leading opposition member Hasan Aali told reporters after a meeting at Al-Wefaq headquarters. Based on the response the opposition receives on their queries, they will decide "whether or not to continue the dialogue."

Bahrain opposition undecided on Bahrain dialogue

February 10, 2013 07:15
Bahrain's national dialogue was set to begin later Sunday as a source close to the main opposition bloc Al-Wefaq said the Shiite grouping was sill meeting to decide if it would participate in the talks. "Al-Wefaq are holding a meeting to announce their final decision," the source said, requesting anonymity. Al-Wefaq has welcomed the talks but also said that an agreement on the mechanism of the planned talks should be agreed in advance and the results of the talks be put to a referendum and not be submitted to King Hamad for approval.

Mistrust overshadows Bahrain national dialogue

February 8, 2013 01:16
Bahrain's national dialogue is set to resume Sunday in an atmosphere of mutual mistrust between government and the opposition ahead of the second anniversary of a Shiite-led uprising that shook the Gulf kingdom. The opposition said on Wednesday that an agreement on the mechanism of its planned talks with around 27 representatives of pro-regime groups should be agreed in advance. The dialogue, aimed at ending the kingdom's political deadlock, comes amid daily opposition protests for the anniversary of the uprising against the Sunni monarchy that erupted on February 14, 2011.

Bahrain opposition wants to know the rules ahead of talks

February 6, 2013 13:46
Bahrain's opposition said on Wednesday that an agreement on the mechanism of a planned national dialogue should be agreed before the start of the talks aimed at ending the kingdom's political deadlock. The Shiite-led opposition's position could mean that the dialogue might not start on Sunday if it sticks to its demands and shuns the talks, as it has in the past. The opposition groups "stressed the need to agree on the mechanism and the rules of the national dialogue," said the six opposition groups, led by Al-Wefaq, in a statement ahead of the dialogue.

Bahrain to resume national dialogue Feb 10

February 4, 2013 13:16
Bahrain's justice ministry announced on Monday that national talks aimed at ending the kingdom's political stalemate will resume on February 10, after an earlier round failed to bring the opposition on board. Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa said the dialogue will reconvene on Sunday after he met representatives of six opposition groups, as well as eight associations on good terms with the government, BNA state news agency reported. The opposition groups included Al-Wefaq, the largest formation in the Shiite-majority Gulf state that is ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty.

UPDATE 1-Bahrain king invites opposition to restart talks

January 21, 2013 18:45
(Adds details, background) DUBAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Bahrain's king invited opposition parties to restart stalled talks on Monday in the latest effort to break a political deadlock in the Gulf Arab state beset by unrest. Western-allied Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, has been in political ferment since protests led by majority Shi'ite Muslims demanding democratic change in the Sunni-led monarchy erupted in early 2011.
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