This is incredibly encouraging. From the place that just released detained bloggers, the majority Shiite protested against the government demanding reform!

MANAMA (Reuters) – Tens of thousands have marched in one of Bahrain’s largest opposition demonstrations
to demand democratic reforms in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.

Friday’s peaceful march, called by the Shi’ite-led opposition, follows unsuccessful talks with the government on
constitutional reforms to give greater powers to parliament’s elected assembly, which is on an equal footing with a
state-appointed chamber.

Bahrain, the Gulf’s banking hub and home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has introduced some reforms, but the
opposition, led by the country’s majority Shi’ite Muslims, want more rights in the small Sunni-ruled island state.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa called for legal action against organisers for holding the
march despite being refused a permit, the state news agency BNA said.

Sheikh Rashed said his ministry did not issue the permit due to regional “tension and security threats”. He did
not elaborate.

Sheikh Ali Salman, a cleric who heads a main opposition group, earlier told marchers: “This gathering is
demanding a constitution that is agreed upon by everybody, to bring the country out of a crisis which cripples its
progress and reforms.” Organisers estimated the crowd at about 80,000.

“Bahrain is suffering from policies that harm the nation — corruption, unemployment and poverty. There is an
urgent need for reforms,” he added.

This is incredibly good news. Al Jazeera is actually being helpful in providing information, and is reporting that the government plans to move against the protestors in unspecified measures.

Bahrain has warned it will take unspecified measures against the Gulf state’s main Shia opposition group after it organised a mass demonstration in defiance of a government ban.

The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) “will face legal measures after it organised an unlawful demonstration yesterday,” Information Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Abd al-Ghaffar was quoted by the daily Al-Ayyam as saying on Saturday.

Newspapers carried a similar warning issued by the interior minister late on Friday after thousands of people took to the streets of Sitra, the archipelago’s third largest island located south of Manama, in response to the INAA’s call to press for constitutional reforms.

INAA leader Shaikh Ali Salman led the march, in which representatives of three other political groupings allied with his association – the leftist National Democratic Action Association, the Nationalist Democratic Rally, which is a pan-Arab nationalist group, and the Islamic Action Association, a Shia grouping – also took part.

Babbling Bahrania has a bit more on a woman activist and the constitutional reforms that took place between the 70s and now. It seems the opposition’s intent with this protest was to pressure the government to move more legislative and oversight powers to the elected parliament.

WHERE ARE THE BABES? Glenn wants to know. No real pictures of the protests yet, but if anyone finds one (especially if there is a girl in it) let me know. For now, Google only has links to various escort services.

UPDATE: Here are tons of pictures from the protest.