Advertisement

Bahrain says affairs are in order

Bahraini man react during his funeral of Ahmed Farhan, a 29-year-old demonstrator slain Tuesday in the town of Sitra, Bahrain, Friday, March 18, 2011. Thousands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. UPI\Isa Ebrahim
1 of 4 | Bahraini man react during his funeral of Ahmed Farhan, a 29-year-old demonstrator slain Tuesday in the town of Sitra, Bahrain, Friday, March 18, 2011. Thousands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. UPI\Isa Ebrahim | License Photo

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 9 (UPI) -- A decision by the Bahraini monarch to put an end to a state of emergency declared in March shows state affairs are in order, an official said.

Jamal Fakhro, deputy president of the upper house of Bahrain's National Assembly, told al-Jazeera that decision was a sign of the state of affairs in the country.

Advertisement

"This is good news for Bahrain," he said. "This shows we are in the process of managing our affairs."

The ruling Sunni minority imposed a state of emergency March 15 to quiet a Shiite uprising. Forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered the country after the March order under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The announcement followed charges filed against 14 opposition leaders for allegedly trying to overthrow the Sunni monarchy. The government last month outlawed two top Shiite political groups, including al-Wefaq, which had won 18 seats on the 40-member Parliament in 2009.

The Arab broadcaster said at least 30 people were killed since protests erupted in February. The state of emergency was scheduled to end June 15.

Latest Headlines