The government of Bahrain showed some conciliatory gestures to protesters on Saturday, calling off its military from violent reactions and opening dialogue with opposition leaders. A senior U.S. official who spoke with the kingdom’s crown prince pushed him to enact “meaningful” reform and condemned the earlier instances of aggression. The White House also reaffirmed that it is a “longstanding partner” of Bahrain. Earlier in the day, Bahrain’s protesters reclaimed Pearl Square, the symbolic epicenter of their anti-government rallies.
