Thousands of Bahrainis rally to demand reforms, resignation of PM

Thousands of Bahrainis have rallied near the capital, Manama, to demand reforms and resignation of Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman, while voicing support for political prisoners. Thousands of demonstrators on Friday took to the streets in the village of Bilad al-Qadeem, southwest of the capital, shouting slogans against the premier and other Al Khalifa regime officials. "Khalifa! Step down," chanted protesters, referring to the King’s uncle who has held the premier's office since 1971 and is widely unpopular in the island nation. "Bahrain is in need of a large political plan...that takes the country into a new stage based on the rule of the people, not the rule of one family," opposition groups said in a statement following the protest. The Persian Gulf kingdom was rocked by a popular uprising in mid-February 2011, when the people -- inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt -- have embarked on massive street protests on an almost daily basis. The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations and called in troops from Saudi Arabia and other neighboring Arab states to help Manama quash the popular movement. Scores of people have been killed in the crackdown, while the security forces have arrested hundreds, among them doctors and nurses accused of treating injured revolutionaries. A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters.