Bahrain frees political prisoners

THOUSANDS of anti-government protesters marched to Manama’s Pearl Square yesterday after Bahrain’s king released at least 100 political prisoners, an acknowledgment by the Sunni ruler of the mounting pressure being placed on him by Shiite opposition.

The inmates included 25 Shiite activists on trial since last year for plotting against the state. The release underlined how much the absolute rulers of the Gulf kingdom, a close ally of Washington, want to get reform talks with protest leaders under way. Their release was one of the major demands of the emboldened political movement seeking constitutional reform.

President of Bahrain’s Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, said only about 100 of those people were political prisoners, while at least 300 remain in detention.