Bahrain began freeing political prisoners today, including 23 accused of seeking to overthrow the kingdom's Sunni Muslim monarchy.
‘It is a positive move,’ Ibrahim Mattar of the Wefaq party told Reuters, saying more than 100 prisoners had been released before dawn, but dozens remained in jail.
The release of political prisoners has been a demand of protestors seeking an elected government in Bahrain, where seven people were killed and hundreds wounded in protests last week.
‘Allowing the people to protest and releasing those people are positive moves,’ Mr Mattar said.
Opposition groups were waiting for the royal family to accept the principle of a constitutional monarchy before they would enter into a dialogue.
‘The main point we are waiting for is the initiative for political reform,’ Mr Mattar said.
'Until now they didn't promise anything. If they don't say it, we are wasting our time.’
