Can al-Wafeq rise to the occasion of Revolutionary leadship?

Bahrainis get set for nationwide rallies
shiapost | July 8, 2011

Bahrain’s military tanks in a street in Manama (FP)

Bahrain’s main opposition group al-Wafeq has called for a new massive nationwide protest despite warnings by the regime’s Interior Ministry against such moves.

The opposition bloc is currently in talks with the ruler of Bahrain in a bid to ease wide-spread tensions in the country.

However, the bloc has announced that it will press for a UN intervention if the dialogue fails. It has also expressed doubts that the so-called ‘national dialogue’ would lead to a resolution of many outstanding issues, such as the persisting suppression, arrest and torture of anti-government protesters as well as the continuing military trials of civilians by the al-Khalifa regime.

Only the leaders from two of the opposition groups, al-Wafeq and al-Waad, are participating in the negotiations as other opposition leaders remain in custody.

According to Bahrain Center for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, there are currently over 1,000 political detainees, including medical staff, inside the country.

Meanwhile, al-Wafeq called for new protests on Friday across the country. Earlier, however, the Interior Ministry warned that it will quash any kind of protest gathering, a Press TV correspondent reported. …more