Sunday, 27 February 2011 at 08:42, Bloomberg
Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa al Khalifa, whose nation has been shaken by anti-government protests in recent weeks, swore in five new Cabinet ministers and reduced government housing loans by 25 per cent.
The king named ministers for housing, labour, health, cabinet affairs and electricity and water, according to an e- mailed statement in Manama today released by Bell Pottinger.
Popular uprisings throughout the Middle East have toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt this year and prompted governments to boost public spending to ease discontent. Demonstrators in Bahrain have demanded democracy, free elections and more job opportunities. Shiites make up between 60 and 70 per cent of the Bahraini Population, while the ruling elite is largely Sunni.
Seven people have been killed in the Bahrain demonstrations, which began on February 14 and calmed down almost a week later after the government pulled back tanks and armored personnel carriers from the city center and offered to hold a dialog with the opposition.
Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi, whose country belongs to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is facing an unprecedented rebellion against his four-decade rule.
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