Riot police in Bahrain fired tear gas and stun grenades at anti-government protesters whose chants included calls to reject proposed talks aimed at easing nearly two years of unrest in the Gulf nation. Thursday's clashes were relatively small, with several hundred protesters demonstrating near Sitra, south of the capital Manama. But they highlight the divides among Bahrain's Shiite-led opposition over whether to accept the Sunni monarchy's offers Read more [...]

View full size Bahraini anti-government protesters wave national flags chant anti-government slogans during the funeral of Habib Ibrahim, 88, a man whose family and opposition rights activists allege died from tear gas fired by police during earlier clashes in Malkiya village, Bahrain, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. AP Photo/Hasan Jamali   Qasim Omran of Grand Rapids is a doctor with expertise in pulmonary medicine, Read more [...]

The first national dialogue was held in July 2011 with the participation of around 300 people representing NGOs, trade unions, women’s groups, the media, the parliament and the government.