A protester holds a banner as she participates in a rally organised by Bahrain’s main opposition group Wefaq in Salmabad, south of Manama yesterday.
Reuters/Dubai
Bahrain will begin reconciliation talks on Sunday with opposition groups, the government said yesterday, in an effort to end nearly two years of strife over demands for more democracy.
Opposition groups contacted by Reuters suggested they would attend the talks but cited differences with the government over the goal of the dialogue that could undermine its effectiveness.
The kingdom has been in ferment since protests erupted in early 2011 led by Shia Muslims demanding a constitutional monarchy with an elected government.
Bahraini officials said invitations would be issued later in the day to about 17 pro-government and opposition groups and delegates from the two houses of parliament to attend the talks starting on February 10.
“We have every intention to make this dialogue a success,” Information Affairs Minister Samira Rajab told Reuters. “The onus is on the other parties and their seriousness in pursuing dialogue.”
Khalil al-Marzouq, a senior official in the main opposition group Wefaq, said his and other dissident groups were at odds with the government over the aims and mechanism of the talks.
He said that opposition leaders wanted representatives of the ruling family to participate and had also requested unspecified international experts to attend.
The government had either rejected these demands or sought to defer them for discussion at the talks, he said.
“We want a real dialogue, serious negotiations on a mechanism that will restore powers to the people and turn Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy,” Marzouq said.
Bahraini officials say the kingdom has introduced major reforms.
