MANAMA: Banks and shops which had been closed for a week reopened Sunday in Bahrain's business district after the security forces crushed Shia-led pro-democracy protests.
Traffic flowed into the financial district of Manama but private businesses, especially in the tourism sector, were clearly struggling due to the ungoing political unrest in the strategic Gulf kingdom.
"This is unusually quiet," said a waitress at a cafe in the Bahrain World Trade Centre complex, where only two customers showed up at lunch time on the first day of the working week.
"Most offices are still shut," she said, adding that the cafe normally would be heaving with customers from the business district.
The parking lot outside the landmark Trade Centre twin towers was barely half-filled, while military vehicles were still stationed across the street at the entrance to the Bahrain Financial Harbour business complex.
Banks that had been shut for a week were having trouble coping with an inrush of customers, however.
"Sorry, I can't talk. We're very busy," said a bank clerk, eyes fixed on a computer monitor in front of him, as people queued at the counters. "We have many delayed documents to process," he said.
"Some employees didn't turn up because they can't leave their villages," said a security man at a branch of an international bank, clearly referring to Shia staff.
The army and riot police loyal to the Sunni Muslim ruling family are keeping tight control over Shia areas around the city, which is a regional hub for banking and finance.
The kingdom's reputation for business-friendly stability has taken a battering, with ratings agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's downgrading Bahrain's debt ratings last week.
Fitch said the downgrade in part "reflects the risk that the political instability may harm Bahrain's attractiveness as an international financial and business centre, which plays an important role in Bahrain's economic model."
Financial services make up 25 percent of Bahraini output, it noted.
While some business activity returned to life, many other workers decided to stay at home in compliance with a general strike called by the main trade union in protest at the violence against protesters.
At least three people died when security forces firing tear gas and shotguns assaulted a month-old pro-democracy camp in Manama's central Pearl Square roundabout on Wednesday.
Hundreds were wounded in the unrest and the government has been accused of crimes against international law for sealing off hospitals and assaulting doctors who tried to tend to the wounded.
The kingdom's rulers invited troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states into the tiny island state to help boost security, a move which infuriated Iran and provoked outrage from the mainly Shia opposition.
"We will close in two to three months if business stays at this level," said Indian Waseem Raja Soufi, 25, whose family has a souvenir shop in Bahrain Gate shopping centre.
Hotels are also struggling in the absence of business guests and tourists.
An employee at a five-star hotel in the diplomatic quarter said there were only 10 guests, mostly journalists.
"Many employees are being told to take a vacation," he said.
Bahrain receives many tourists from neighbouring Saudi Arabia who cross a short causeway to enjoy the relatively-open environment, where men and women can mix freely and alcohol is available.
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