(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Bahrain's discriminate rulers launched a so called national dialogue on July 2 to discuss reforms and address grievances, after a four-month crackdown that began in March and crushed weeks of pro-democracy protests led by the Shia majority.
Wefaq and six other political opposition groups, which were invited to take part in talks, have complained their proposed political reforms would never be put into effect because the opposition received only 35 out of 300 seats at the talks. However, the government has defended its apportioning of representatives, saying it wants the dialogue to include all Bahrainis.
A walkout by the largest opposition group could damage the dialogue's chances of reaching national consensus as sectarian tensions continue to simmer in kingdom.
Wefaq said on Sunday it would withdraw because its views were not being taken seriously in talks it accused of being dominated by pro-government representatives. That decision still has to be ratified by the movement's higher council.
Wefaq, which held over 40 per cent of seats in the country's elected lower council before it resigned in protest in February, was given five seats at the talks.
Protests have erupted almost daily in Shia villages ringing the capital Manama since Bahrain lifted emergency law in June, and tension had been rising as demonstrators increasingly demanded that the opposition quit the talks.
Mainstream opposition groups such as Wefaq have called for a more representative parliamentary system and greater powers for the elected lower council, whose powers are neutered by the upper Shura council, appointed by the king.
The National Dialogue's spokesman, Isa Abdul Rahman, said Wefaq could rejoin the talks if it changed its mind.
"Should any participant choose to exclude themselves from the process, the door will remain open for them to return to the talks. Regardless of any participant's decision to leave the Dialogue will continue," he said.
But hard liners calling for the abolition of the monarchy have gained popularity since the crackdown.
Dialogue spokesman Abdul Rahman said he was disappointed Wefaq had not stuck with the talks.
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