Bahrain crisis deepens as 11 MPs resign

BAHRAIN parliament has accepted the resignations of 11 MPs from the Shiite opposition, a sign that the political crisis and sectarian divisions are deepening in the tiny Gulf kingdom.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported the 40-member house approved the resignations of 11 Al Wefaq legislators.

In a statement yesterday, the Shiite opposition called on supporters to continue challenging the Sunni monarchy's monopoly on power with acts of disobedience such as public mourning of "the martyrs who died to achieve the legitimate rights for Bahraini people." Al Wefaq is the largest of seven opposition Shiite parties.

Bahrain's parliament is the island nation's only elected body. It holds limited authority since all the country's decisions rest with the king. Two weeks ago, Bahrain declared three-months of emergency rule to deal with the demonstrations. Protesters from the majority Shiite population have been seeking to loosen the grip on power of a Sunni monarchy that has ruled Bahrain for 200 years. The protesters want a constitutional monarchy and elected government. Earlier this month Saudi troops helped quell protests. More than 1,500 from the Gulf Co-operation Council entered over the causeway from Saudi.