"Bahrain’s biggest Shi’ite party pulled out of the US-backed talks with the Gulf kingdom’s Sunni rulers, claiming the government was not serious about addressing Shi’ite demands for greater rights and political freedoms.
Washington has strongly pushed for dialogue in the strategic island nation, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The protests that began in February have been the gravest challenge to any Gulf ruler in decades.
Khalil al-Marzooq, a senior member of Al Wefaq party and the leader of its delegation to the talks, told the Associated Press the party’s top leaders decided to withdraw from the so-called national dialogue during a meeting yesterday. Marzooq said they have concluded that the government is not interested in political reform.
The government had no immediate response.
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Also see: Reconciled To Bahrain Coverage
