Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Witnesses stated on Thursday (January 28, 2016) that the Bahraini security authorities removed barriers near the Pearl Roundabout, which was the center of the February and March protests, to the north and replaced them with police vehicles.

The local Bahraini Al-Ayam newspaper quoted an official source at the Ministry of Works and Municipal Affairs that said: The authorities are planning to open Al-Faruq Intersection (Pearl Roundabout) in the path leading to the Central Market and Muharraq.

The Pearl Roundabout was the cradle of massive popular protests Bahrain witnessed in February 2011 demanding to put an end to the ruling Al-Khalifa family's monopoly over power, before the authorities, with the support of Saudi troops, expelled the protesters and destroyed it in March of the same year.

Since then, the Roundabout remained closed by security barriers and heavily guarded by units of the Bahraini Army and National Guard. However, the Roundabout remained a destination for the protesters who attempted more than once to reach it, in spite of the security deployment.

Bahrainis are now making preparations to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the revolution on February 14, 2016.

Arabic Issue