Bahrain Protests: A Civil State, Elected Government

Thousands of protests took part in a gathering organized by Bahrain's largest opposition group on Friday to raise their demands for a civil state with elected government. "We want a civil state with an elected government," said Shaikh Ali Salman, leader of the group Al Wefaq National Islamic Society.

"Sacking staff from companies and students from universities is unacceptable. National unity is important at this stage despite media attacks. Security personnel who committed crime should also be held accountable," he said in a speech during the gathering, which was held in Sitra under the theme of "A country for all".
Traffic was slow on all the main roads leading to Sitra as people thronged to the gathering. The participants carried pictures of political leaders and people who were arrested during the anti-government protests in March. Hundreds of women waving Bahraini flags also attended the gathering.

According to the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, the country's main union body, nearly 1,900 Bahrainis have been sacked for participating in the nationwide strike called by the unions and being absent from work to take part in protests.