Key developments in the Gulf state of Bahrain since demonstrations by the Shiite majority demanding political and social reforms in the country led by a Sunni royal family broke out in February 2011.
FEBRUARY, 2011
- 14: Demonstrations in several Shiite-majority villages.
- 17: Four demonstrators die in police attack on Pearl Square in central Manama, which has become the focus of the protests. The main opposition movement, Al-Wefaq, withdraws from parliament.
- 19: Thousands of demonstrators return to Pearl Square after security forces withdraw tanks.
MARCH
- 14: Some 1,000 Gulf armoured troops enter Bahrain from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Riyadh says it has responded to a call for help from Manama. The United Arab Emirates sends 500 police officers and Kuwait sends naval units.
- 16: Police backed by tanks and helicopters clear Pearl Square of protesters. The UN slams security forces' takeover of hospitals and medical facilities. Shiite Iran withdraws its ambassador a day after Manama recalled its ambassador from Iran.
- 17: Six opposition leaders, including five hardline Shiite activists, arrested.
- 19: Authorities demolish the monument in Pearl Square.
JULY
- 29: Al-Wefaq slams the national dialogue's recommendations submitted to King Hamad, reiterating demands for an "elected government," an "elected parliament which has full legislative powers," and a "fair and independent judicial system". On July 17 it had announced it was withdrawing from the dialogue, saying it was not aimed at achieving serious results.
NOVEMBER
- 23: The head of Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry says security forces used "excessive force" and tortured detainees in its crackdown, which left 35 dead, including five from torture. The king says he accepts the report's conclusions. Amnesty International says that 20 protesters have been killed since, with 3,000 arrested and 700 still in detention.
- 29: King Hamad announces a new head of national security, from outside the royal family.
JANUARY, 2012
- 15: The king introduces constitutional reforms giving more power to the elected parliament, but falling far short of opposition demands.
FEBRUARY
- 14: Bahraini police disperse protesters who made several attempts to mark the anniversary of the uprising by marching to Pearl Square.
MARCH
- 20: Bahrain's King Hamad pledges to press on with political reforms but warns that Bahrain will not compromise its sovereignty. The opposition expresses readiness for dialogue but demands a referendum.
- 24: Al-Wefaq says a man and a woman died of asphyxiation caused by tear gas grenades fired by security forces to disperse protests. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticises Bahraini forces for their "disproportionate use of force".
APRIL
- 9: The youth group of the "Revolution of February 14" calls for "three days of rage" in Bahrain from April 20 to 22, and also launches a campaign on Twitter to cancel the Formula 1 Grand Prix race as scheduled on April 22.
- 10: The Bahrain authorities call for non-interference regarding a jailed activist, a Shiite with dual Danish and Bahraini nationality, who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months and about whom Denmark and the United States have expressed their concern.
- Hundreds of Bahraini civilians attack residents of the kingdom's Shiite villages beating them in retaliation for a bomb attack during which seven policemen are injured in a Shiite village.
