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| Arabia |
| Bahrain pardons opposition leaders after protests |
| 2009-04-13 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Bahrain's king has pardoned 178 people charged with breaching state security, including two Shiite opposition leaders whose arrest sparked violent protests and whose trial has drawn international scrutiny, a government source said Sunday. A government source, who declined to be named, said those pardoned by King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa late Saturday night included Hassan Mushaima, leader of the mainly Shiite opposition movement Haq, Shiite cleric Mohammed Maqdad and 33 other defendants on trial with them. "You are now obliged to cooperate for the security of this country," Bahrain's news agency quoted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa as telling the prisoners. More than 1,500 Bahrainis staged protests in February demanding their release and rights groups complained that their trial was flawed. Some defendants have been accused of planning the violent overthrow of the government. |
| Posted by:Fred |