BREAKING NEWS

Bahrain king calls for reform talks after martial law

MANAMA - Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa called for talks on reform in the Gulf Arab state "without preconditions" from July 1, the state news agency said on Tuesday.
The offer comes as the government prepares to lift on Wednesday a state of emergency imposed in March to restore order and break up a pro-democracy protest movement.
"The king called on everyone to take part ... to push forward reform for development in all areas and to firmly anchor the bases of the reform process," the Bahrain News Agency said.