(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - "Bahrain will remain a nation of law, institutions, liberties and tolerance between different religions and cultures," AFP quoted the monarch as saying on Sunday in a speech marking the National Day.
King Hamad also praised the country’s "armed, security, and National Guard forces who are always ready" to ensure "security and stability."
As he made his speech in the capital, Saudi-backed regime forces fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse anti-regime protests in several Shia villages. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the ruling Al Khalifa family and called for the resignation of the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the king's uncle who has retained his post for decades.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
On Friday, tens of thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets in Manama to demand reforms, despite a ban imposed by the Al Khalifa regime on protests.
Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011.
The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces to help quell the unrest.
Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically-elected government is met.
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King Hamad also praised the country’s "armed, security, and National Guard forces who are always ready" to ensure "security and stability."
As he made his speech in the capital, Saudi-backed regime forces fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse anti-regime protests in several Shia villages. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the ruling Al Khalifa family and called for the resignation of the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the king's uncle who has retained his post for decades.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
On Friday, tens of thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets in Manama to demand reforms, despite a ban imposed by the Al Khalifa regime on protests.
Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011.
The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces to help quell the unrest.
Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically-elected government is met.
/129