Tens of thousands of mainly Shia Bahrainis gathered in Manama on Friday, declared as a day of mourning by the government, in one of the biggest anti-government protests since unrest erupted 10 days ago. Large crowds marched to Pearl Square, the focal point of the protests by an opposition youth movement seeking to bring down the Sunni-led government and calling for a new constitution, inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Bahrain saw the worst unrest since the 1990s last week when seven people were killed in protests by its majority Shias who have long complained of discrimination in Sunni-ruled Bahrain, which is a close US and Saudi ally. The gathering was called by a council of leading religious figures, including Sheikh Issa Qassem, the most revered Shia cleric in Bahrain.
The government had declared a national day of mourning for the protesters killed in clashes which erupted on February 14 and lasted until the government pulled all troops off the streets less than a week later. Crowds moved slowly towards Pearl Square, waving Bahraini flags and chanting religious slogans and calling for the government to step down.
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