Protesters stage show of force against monarchy

TENS of thousands of flag-waving protesters flooded Bahrain’s capital yesterday in a massive show of force against the embattled monarchy.

Upbeat, determined demonstrators took over Manama for the day, circling the Bahrain Mall and the financial district, symbols of the country’s recent prosperity, in a march to the heart of the protest at Pearl Square.

“Egypt, Tunisia, are we any different?” marchers chanted, calling for the Sunni rulers they accuse of discriminating against the island’s Shiite majority to fall as the presidents of two other Arab countries have in recent weeks.