Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Bahrain in fresh protest rallies against the decades-long rule of the Al Khalifa royal family.

The demonstrators on Saturday called for the resignation of the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman Al Khalifah, who has held his office since the early 1970s.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

However, opposition rallies have continued in Bahrain in defiance of a government ban on public gatherings. The government’s harsh crackdown on demonstrations has also failed to keep protesters off the streets.

Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more have been detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began.

A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown, criticizing Manama for torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters.

Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically-elected government is met. /SR