Bahrain

September 2007 | Risk Summary

King Hamad has proved a dab hand at counterbalancing the immediate interests of the ruling family with the more urgent demands for political reform emerging from the mainly Shi'a opposition. A number of clashes between security forces and young Bahrainis over the summer affirmed the continued toxicity of the sectarian divide, and the disaffection of a large slice of the population. Constitutional tinkerings are unlikely to defuse these tensions, even if they have temporarily befuddled the mainstream Shi'a political opposition. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa has talked of a looming sectarian rift that only concerted efforts at forging

If you would like to subscribe to Middle East Monitor, The Gulf and gain instant access to this article, please click here to subscribe.

If you would like to take a trial to Middle East Monitor, The Gulf please click on the trial link below.