Bahrain Unrest: Crisis Talks Set To Begin

Opposing factions in Bahrain are set to begin talks in a bid to ease unrest and mistrust in part of an Arab Spring conflict that has gone on for nearly two years.

Ahead of the second anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising that shook the Gulf kingdom, the national dialogue is aimed at ending political deadlock.

The country's Sunni rulers - supported by the West and other Gulf allies – are seeking to bring the main Shiite factions back into the political fold in the hope of starting a gradual reconciliation.

A statement from Al Wefaq, the biggest Shiite political group, said the talks must seek a "big political project that seriously represents the peoples' demands."

Bahraini officials have called the dialogue a chance for a "national consensus," but have been unclear on whether they would consider any reforms that would weaken their direct control over the country's affairs.

An anti-government protester walks with molotov cocktails and a gas mask

A key challenge could be opposition calls to replace Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, an uncle of the king who has been in office since Bahrain's independence in 1971.

Al Wefaq withdrew from a similar round of talks in July 2011 but said in December that it was ready for new dialogue.

The talks comes amid week-long protests to mark two years since the uprising against the Sunni monarchy began on February 14, 2011.

Hundreds of supporters of Al Wefaq marched near the capital of Manama over the weekend demanding reform.

Supporters of a more radical youth movement took to the streets in several Shiite villages, chanting: "The people want to overthrow the regime" and "No, no to dialogue."

Protesters hold banners saying 'No U Turn' meaning 'No Returning Back'

Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since its forces crushed Shiite-led protests in March 2011.

The unrest has so far left 80 people dead, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Bahrain's Shiites account for about 70% of the kingdom's more than 550,000 native-born citizens. But while they are the majority, they claim they face systematic discrimination and are effectively shut out of top-level government and military roles.

Their protests for a greater political voice have flared up periodically during the past decades, but the current unrest is the longest and most threatening to the ruling system.

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