8 March 2011 - 20:30

Three Shia groups in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain have united and called for the ruling family to step aside, they announced.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Haq, Wafa and Bahrain Freedom Movement parties have formed a "Coalition for a (Bahraini) Republic," they said late Tuesday.

Anti-government protesters have been camped out in the capital's Pearl Roundabout for nearly a month.

The new coalition is calling for a democratic republic with no ruling family -- a step farther than other opposition groups, which are calling for a constitutional monarchy.

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