Thousands of Bahrainis hold pro-reform rally in Manama

Tens of thousands of people in Bahrain have staged a pro-reform demonstration in the capital city, Manama, despite a ban imposed by the Al Khalifa regime on protests. The demonstrators took to the streets on Friday, chanting slogans and demanding freedom and reforms. There have been no reports yet on possible scuffles between protesters and police forces. However, similar rallies have turned violent in the past, with police using force to disperse protesters. Opposition rallies have continued in Bahrain in defiance of a government ban on public gatherings. The government’s harsh crackdown on demonstrations has also failed to keep protesters off the streets. Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011. The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces to help quell the unrest. Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and security forces have arrested hundreds including doctors and nurses. Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically-elected government is met. Bahrain hosts the US Fifth Fleet and is among the Persian Gulf countries like Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates that receive military equipment from the United States.