Monarchy in retreat
Bahrain On Saturday 19 February security forces withdrew from the Pearl Square area in the capital, Manama, allowing pro-democracy demonstrators to return to a place which had become the centre of the protest movement. The state forces, many of whom are Sunni Muslims recruited outside Bahrain, had killed seven protesters over the previous week. The overwhelming majority of the demonstrators and 70% of the population are Shia. Shia people are discriminated against in Bahrain. All real power is in the hands of the Sunni monarchy and its hand-picked politicians. On the marches one popular chant...