Bahrain Promotes Month of Talks to Help End ‘Family’ Squabble

Bahraini state television, promoting a “national dialogue” after unrest, shows two girls playing and then squabbling, smiles replaced by scowls. Then the smiles return, accompanied by a caption: “Like any family, we have our differences, but we love each other.”

The monthlong talks involving representatives of political parties, activists and prominent Bahrainis began July 2 in Manama, two days after a renewal of tensions in the capital prompted troops to use tear gas on protesters. Sunni Muslim King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa called for the dialogue to heal rifts opened by the crackdown that has left at least 30 dead and 500 in jail. Between Sunni concern that Shiite Muslim-led Iran is stoking the unrest and Shiite bitterness over the violence, he may find dialogue alone fails to bring family unity.