Bahrain\u2019s biggest Shiite party to join talks with Sunni rulers despite crackdown on dissent
\nBy Associated Press, Updated: Friday, July 1, 11:48 AM<\/p>\n
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates \u2014 Bahrain\u2019s biggest Shiite bloc will join reconciliation talks with Sunni rulers despite a harsh crackdown on pro-reform protests in the Gulf kingdom, the party\u2019s leader said Friday on the eve of the government-led dialogue.<\/p>\n
The decision by the group, Al Wefaq, lends important credibility to the U.S.-encouraged talks after more than four months of Shiite-led protests for greater rights and harsh crackdowns. But Wefaq also could bring divisions within Bahrain\u2019s Shiite majority as many insist that negotiations are futile until the government frees detainees and halts trials links to the protests.<\/p>\n
Washington has strongly pushed for talks between the opposition and the rulers in the strategic island nation, which hosts the U.S. Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet. The Sunni monarchy has made concessions in advance of the so-called \u201cnational dialogue\u201d set to begin Saturday, including sanctioning an international investigation that will include probes into the conduct of security forces.<\/p>\n
But the government has not relented on opposition demands to free all detainees and clear others convicted of protest-linked charges, including eight activists sentenced to life in prison last month.<\/p>\n
Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain\u2019s 525,000 people, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being blocked from top government and political posts.<\/p>\n
The head of Wefaq, Sheik Ali Salman, said delegates from his group will join the talks but will stick to its calls to loosen the Sunni monarchy\u2019s grip on power.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are heading to the talks, but we will not give up our demand for a government that represents the will of the people,\u201d Salman told thousands of supporters during a rally in Diraz, an opposition stronghold northwest of the capital Manama. …more<\/a><\/p>\n