Protesters retake Bahrain square

A woman holds a sign that reads in Arabic, "Revolution does not let up --Yemen, Libya and Bahrain", as she protests outside the offices in Beirut representing the Bahraini Embassy in Lebanon, yesterday. Photo: AFP

Thousands of anti-government protesters have reoccupied their former stronghold in the capital, Manama, after troops and riot police retreated from the Pearl roundabout in the centre of the city.
The cheering protesters carrying Bahraini flags, flowers and signs that said "Peaceful, peaceful" marched to the square yesterday. They chanted, "We are victorious".
Protesters kissed the ground in joy and took pictures of about 60 police vehicles leaving the area.
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the crown prince, had earlier in the day ordered the military to withdraw, saying that the police would now be responsible for enforcing order, the Bahrain News Agency reported.
Soon after the crown prince's directive, protesters had attempted to stream back to the roundabout, but were beaten back by the police. According to the Reuters news agency, about 80 prisoners were taken to a hospital after being hit by rubber bullets or teargas.
The protesters, however, were successful in the next attempt, when the riot police withdrew from the traffic circle as well.
The tiny kingdom with a Sunni monarchy has been in upheaval with the Shia majority taking to the streets in thousands.
The authorities had cracked down on the protesters with a heavy hand, resulting in the deaths of several protesters in police firing. But the protesters, who accuse the ruling Sunni elite of discriminating against them, have stood their ground.
Meanwhile, the General Union of Bahraini Workers has called a strike for Sunday, according to a member of the workers union at national flag carrier Gulf Air.