Bahraini protesters demand breaking monarchy's grip on appointing top government postsFebruary 16, 2011 - 11:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Protesters occupying a central square in Bahrain's capital are calling for a third day of rallies to demand sweeping political reforms from the Gulf nation's rulers. Thousands of demonstrators spent the night in a makeshift tent city in Manama's landmark Pearl Square. Some broke away early Feb 16 to join a funeral procession for a man killed during clashes with riot police a day earlier in the strategic island nation - home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The rallies began Feb 14 as the first major Arab protests to reach the Gulf after uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The crowds in Bahrain seek wide-ranging political changes, including breaking the monarchy's grip on appointing top government posts, the Associated Press reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |