MANAMA Bahrain opposition groups welcomed a government appeal for dialogue to break a deadlock in the state, but said “excessive” state violence must end.    

Prince Salman Bin Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifah told a conference on Middle East security in Manama on Friday that real progress can only come through face-to-face negotiations. Leading opposition groups said they were willing to take part.  

“This will give the dialogue the popular and democratic momentum it needs to succeed,” opposition groups including the main party Wefaq and leftist party Waad said in a statement in English on Wefaq’s website.   

In his speech on Friday, Crown Prince Salman urged all political figures to condemn street violence but also said the government needed to push harder to reduce inequality.   

King Hamad last year called for talks “without preconditions”, but that initiative quickly stalled when Wefaq pulled out, saying its views were not being taken seriously.  

The authorities have banned protests, saying they often lead to confrontations that block the streets, and revoked the nationality of 31 activists. Opposition groups say brutality and repression used to put down last year’s revolt, which embarrassed Bahrain’s western allies, continues.   

“We demand that the authorities stop using excessive and systematic force against citizens,” the opposition statement said.    

Bahrain has been in turmoil since pro-democracy unrest erupted almost two years ago, inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled Bin Ali Al Khalifa said after meetings with various political groups in August that the parties should renounce violence before any formal talks to resolve the conflict.

The main opposition Wefaq said it had never condoned attacks on police with petrol bombs or other weapons.

But since then there has been no advance on those contacts as the situation on the ground became more tense with the protest ban and clashes.

The ruling family put down a revolt last year using martial law and help from its regional allies. The violence, pitting Bahrain’s leadership against part of the majority, flared again in recent weeks.  

Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, accuses Teheran of encouraging the unrest. Iran, which is led by clerics, has denied meddling in Bahrain’s affairs.