Bahrain’s king sacks four ministers
By IANSSaturday, February 26, 2011
MANAMA - Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa sacked four ministers as the kingdom kicked off a national dialogue after days of anti-government protests, Xinhua said, citing a local daily report Saturday.
No official statement has been issued to confirm the cabinet reshuffle, local daily Al-Wasat reported.
The shake-up could be an attempt to appease the Shia opposition in the tiny Gulf nation ruled by the Sunni Muslim royal family where the majority Shia population says they are facing discrimination in jobs and other services.
The protests in Bahrain started Feb 14 inspired by the successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The unrest reached the capital Manama Tuesday as protesters camped in the city’s Pearl Square. Seven people have been killed in the worst unrest in the kingdom since the 1990s, Xinhua said.
