Bahrain's youth call for greater political reform - but stop short of all-out revolution

Bahrain's security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets yesterday at thousands of anti-government protesters heeding calls to bring the Arab reform wave to the Gulf.

The tactics appeared to foil plans for a mass gathering in Bahrain's capital, Manama, but it underscored the sharply rising tensions in the tiny island kingdom, which is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahrain's protesters claim that they are not seeking to overthrow the ruling monarchy, but want greater political freedoms.

Social media sites were flooded with calls by political youth groups and activists to join the demonstrations, a symbolic day in Bahrain as it is the anniversary of the country's 2002 constitution that brought an elected parliament.

But opposition groups seek deeper changes from the country's ruling dynasty, including transferring more decision-making powers to the parliament and breaking the monarchy's grip on senior government posts. Bahrain's majority Shiites - about 70 per cent of the population - have long complained of systemic discrimination by the Sunni rulers, headed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.