Bahraini opposition gathers signatures calling for political reforms

Four opposition societies in Bahrain said they will continue their plans to collect signatures in order to submit an appeal to the King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Issa al-Khalifa over the constitution.

The appeal calls for making constitutional reforms conducive to drawing a contracting constitution and the foundation of an elected parliament which is the only side to have the authority to legalization and auditing, together with an appointed council of experts and specialized people, to be appointed according to constitutional rules.

Supervisors of the four Bahraini opposition societies say they have so far collected scores of thousands of signatures over the designed appeal.

On Thursday, the opposition leaders announced they had given up their plans to a massive appeal calling for greater democratic reforms following facing pressures from the government.

Sources from the opposition said they were obliged to retreat after the authorities threatened to close their offices.

The current constitution in Bahrain gives equal authorization for the elected parliament and the Shoura council whose members are chosen by King Hamad Bin Issa al-Khalifa.