MANAMA: Bahrain's crown prince has vowed to hold a national dialogue, after security forces opened fire on anti-regime protesters in the capital amid reports that up to 55 people had been wounded.
The brutal crackdown, which followed an army pledge to restore order through "strict measures" after a deadly police raid, led the United States and Britain to ask nationals to avoid all but essential travel to the Gulf kingdom.
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa promised to open a national dialogue once calm return, and soon afterwards King Hamad formally announced that he had assigned his heir to start those discussions.
US President Barack Obama condemned the violence in a phone conversation with the king, a key regional ally of Washington.
Obama said "the stability of Bahrain depends upon respect for the universal rights of the people of Bahrain, and a process of meaningful reform that is responsive to the aspirations of all Bahrainis," according to a White House statement.
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