Anti-government protesters defied a ban by marching on the headquarters of Bahrain’s main opposition party, pressing ahead with their campaign for greater political and civil rights for the nation’s Shiite Muslims.

The harsh crackdown on anti-government protests in Bahrain has failed to silence people’s demands for greater rights, a senior Shiite cleric in the Gulf kingdom said today as thousands of opposition supporters rallied on the outskirts of the capital.

Reconciliation talks between Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy and the Shiite opposition have started for the first time since anti-government protests erupted in the Gulf kingdom, an opposition figure said.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has returned to this year’s Formula One calendar after a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain today.

The streets of Bahrain were calmer today as violent protests were exchanged for political haggling over demands the monarchy give up its near-absolute control.

BAHRAIN’S opposition wants the nation’s rulers to guarantee they will back up their conciliatory words with actions, a Shi’ite leader said yesterday as he and other activists weighed the regime’s offer for talks after nearly a week of protests and deadly clashes that have divided the Gulf nation.

Bahrain's opposition wants the nation's rulers to guarantee they will back up their conciliatory words with actions, a Shiite leader said today.

Thousands of singing and dancing protesters streamed back into Manama’s central Pearl Square today after Bahrain’s leaders withdrew tanks and riot police following a bloody crackdown by security forces in the tiny monarchy.

Bahrain's Shiite opposition has rejected any dialogue with the Gulf kingdom's Sunni royal family until "tanks are off the streets" and the army stops "shooting at peaceful protesters".

Bahrain riot police firing tear gas and wielding clubs stormed a landmark square occupied by anti-government protesters early today, driving out demonstrators and destroying the makeshift encampment that became the hub for demands to bring sweeping political changes to the kingdom.