Bahrain Opposition Expects "At Least 50,000" At Rally Saturday

Source: Dow Jones

MANAMA, Bahrain (Dow Jones)--A committee set up by seven opposition groups in Bahrain to coordinate anti-government protests expects Bahrain's largest-ever demonstration Saturday.

Ebrahim Sharif, a Sunni Muslim and former banker who heads the secularist National Democratic Action society, part of the seven-group committee, in an interview Wednesday called for a massive turnout.

"On Saturday we hope to have the biggest political gathering in Bahraini history. We are targeting 100,000 people... It won't be less than 50,000," he said.

Seven political opposition groups, including the leading Shiite bloc Al-Wafaq, said Wednesday they have formed a committee to help coordinate protest activity and unify the demands of the protesters. The committee, which includes Sunni as well as Shiite politicians, will meet at least once a day starting Wednesday.



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