Manama: A group of protesters on Monday called for the ouster of Bahrain's entire ruling monarchy as part of sweeping demands to call off the weeklong uprising in the tiny, but strategically important Gulf nation.
Tensions are still running high in Bahrain after seesaw battles that saw riot police open fire on protesters trying to reclaim landmark Pearl Square last week.
Meanwhile, protesters carrying food and tents poured into Manama's Pearl Square on Monday, intensifying their calls for an end to the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty that has ruled the strategic Gulf kingdom for centuries.
The protesters have called a massive demonstration for Tuesday in the hope that tens of thousands of people will converge on Pearl Square and those already there have vowed not to leave until their demands are met.
"We will stay here for as long as it takes and ... will continue to offer food to all those here in the square," said Qassem Hassan, a university student who was passing out fruit and water to passers-by.
At least seven people have been killed and hundreds injured in the clashes since the unrest spilling across the Arab world reached the Gulf last week.
Bahrain holds particular importance to Washington as the host of the US Navy's 5th Fleet, which is the main US military counterweight to Iran's efforts to expand its armed forces and reach into the Gulf.
The manifesto on Monday from a group calling itself "Youth of February 14" after the day of the first marches apparently seeks to stake out an uncompromising stance before possible talks between the opposition and the monarchy.
"We demand the overthrow of the oppressive Al Khalifa regime," the manifesto said, referring to the ruling royal family. "The people will choose the system they will be subjected to."
It is unclear how much weight the group, made up mostly of the hundreds of youth camped out on Pearl Square, carries. Nor is it clear what their relationship is with the official Shiite opposition that includes 18 members of the 40-member parliament who resigned in protest on Thursday. But their manifesto shows the range of demands among the opposition, from the all-or-nothing youth group to others who would let the monarchy survive but with many of its powers and privileges turned over to the elected parliament.
In the statement, the youth group called for authorities to be put on trial for attacks on protesters last week and demanded an elected government. They said the first priority should be the cancellation of citizenship for thousands of foreigners, who were granted Bahraini nationality as part of an effort to change the sectarian balance in the island nation.
Few policies anger Bahrain's Shiite majority more than bestowing citizenship to outside Sunnis, mostly Arabs but also from Pakistan and other South Asian countries.
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