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Bahrain’s disappearing moderates

The mainstream opposition has struggled to respond to rising violence.
Riot police briefly detain protesters during clashes after an anti-government rally organised by Bahrain's main opposition party Al Wefaq in Budaiya March 21, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (BAHRAIN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3I3JW

The toll from a string of car bombings in Bahrain is mounting. Over the last two months, five people have died and a handful more have been injured. Talks between the government and political groups — close to restarting in February — have been derailed. Businesses were questioning whether the turmoil that set back investments in 2011 was really coming to an end as they had hoped.

Yet, among the biggest loser from the rising violence in Bahrain is the moderate Shiite political opposition, Al Wefaq, which is struggling to craft its response. It has not supported the violent tactics of groups such as the more radical February 14 Youth Coalition, to the disappointment of some in their antigovernment constituency. Yet, they have also not condemned the attacks adamantly enough to satisfy many of their critics at home and abroad.

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