Shiite protesters in Bahrain protest US policy

[March 07, 2011]  MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) -- Hundreds of members of Bahrain's Shiite majority protested outside the U.S. Embassy on Monday in a call for Washington to support their campaign for greater political freedom.

The opposition supporters claimed during Monday's protest that Washington is showing less support for the revolt in Bahrain than it did for the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that ousted the countries' presidents. The protesters are staging daily marches in an effort to end what they say are royal family's discriminatory policies and political persecution. They have called for a constitutional monarchy and elected government in Bahrain -- which hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, the main American military counterweight to Iranian forces. The Sunni minority has ruled Bahrain's Shiite majority for 200 years and some of the protesters camped out in the capital's Pearl Square are demanding that the Al Khalifa royal family step down altogether. Washington has praised the king's efforts to defuse tensions and end a three-week showdown that has included a deadly crackdown. The U.S. also urged the Sunni dynasty to answer the aspirations of the Bahraini people. [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.