"We are brothers, Sunnis and Shiites," chanted the demonstrators who were 
predominantly Shiite as they marched from the Salmaniah district of the 
capital, a few kilometres from the square.
Protesters were segregated, with men on one side and women clad in black 
abaya cloaks marching alongside them, an AFP reporter said.
Handicapped protesters on wheelchairs led the procession which passed 
through a street where police killed two anti-government demonstrators two 
weeks ago.
"We are in this march to stress the unity between Shiites and Sunnis in 
Bahrain," said Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, a cleric who was among 25 
activists on trial for terrorism charges, who was freed last week in a royal 
pardon.
The unrest in the small Gulf state is part of a wave of protests that have 
rippled across North Africa and the Middle East since the revolt that ousted 
Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Protesters in the Shiite-majority kingdom which is ruled by the Sunni 
al-Khalifa dynasty have been calling for the fall of the regime.
But Shiite-led opposition groups have taking a more moderate stance, 
demanding major reforms that would lead to establishing a "real" constitutional 
monarchy, as well as the resignation of the government which they hold 
responsible for the killing of seven protesters.
King Hamad bin Issa has entrusted his heir, Sheikh Salman with opening a 
wide-reaching dialogue with the opposition, an offer that is seen too late by 
hard core protesters.
The monarch had kick-started reforms with a referendum in 2001 that led to 
reviving the parliament in 2002, after it had been scrapped in 1975. But the 
legislature remains crippled by the authorities of the all-appointed upper 
chamber, and the king. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
