News / Persian Gulf

Kerry leaves Bahrain but protests continue

Friday, 08 April 2016 1:58 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 08 April 2016 1:58 PM ]

This photo shows Bahraini people during an anti-regime protest in the village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, on April 8, 2016.

Bahraini people have once again taken to the streets in condemnation of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to their country hours after his departure.

The anti-regime protesters took to the streets in the village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, after Friday prayers.

They protested the American policies towards the Bahraini people and accused the US of being a partner of the Al Khalifah regime in shedding the blood of fellow peaceful protesters.

The protesters were also carrying banners that read, “US is the enemy of free peoples.”

On Thursday, people held demonstrations across Bahrain to voice outrage at Kerry’s visit to the tiny Persian Gulf state, setting fire to US flags and Kerry’s portraits.

Before the visit, Kerry came under fire from human rights groups, who demanded a tougher US stance with regards to the kingdom’s heavy-handed suppression of anti-regime protesters.

On Friday, Kerry wrapped up his short visit to Bahrain, a key US ally in the Middle East, which hosts the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy.

The demonstrators said during the protest on Friday that they will keep protesting till their just demands are met.

Since February 14, 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous rallies on an almost daily basis in Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.

In March that year, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protests.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the crackdown.

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