Bahraini police have fired tear gas on anti-government protesters gathered in Pearl Square in the capital, Manama.
Reports say the police attacked the protesters shortly after soldiers moved their tanks out of the square.
Earlier Saturday, members of the opposition Wefaq bloc, which withdrew from parliament this week, said the military must leave the streets and the current government must resign before it will consider negotiations that might end the protests.
Bahrain's crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, on state television Friday said he had been authorized by the king to start a dialogue with all parties.
Also Friday, at least 55 people were wounded when security forces fired on mourners leaving a protester's funeral. The mourners were trying to make a return to Pearl Square in defiance of a government ban on protests.
The military had cleared the square of protesters during a Thursday raid. Five people were killed in that raid and more than 230 were wounded.
Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and is also a regional offshore banking center. The royal family has long been a strategic ally of the United States in efforts to fight terrorism and counter Iran's regional influence.
Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at 11:25 am UTC