Bahrain: Friday Prayers and the Shiite Split

Two demonstrations are planned for March 11 in the Bahraini capital: one anti-government demonstration planned by a new hard-line Shiite coalition, and one pro-government rally organized by the National Unity Gathering, which is led by a Sunni politician. The leader of Bahrain's mainstream opposition coalition — a Shi'i — has urged his followers to avoid the hard-line demonstration. Whether his followers heed his call will indicate the degree of the division among Bahrain's Shia. The outcome of the demonstrations will also illustrate the chances Iran has of being able to foment continued unrest in the Persian Gulf.