Thousands of people took part in a gathering organised by the Al Wefaq Islamic Society in Sitra on Friday which the government said was legal and according to the law.

The Bahrain Homeland for All event was addressed by Al Wefaq leader Shaikh Ali Salman who called on the government to come to the national dialogue with an open mind.

He said the society was all for peace and was not against dialogue but that it needed the right atmosphere and officials handling the dialogue process.

He said the success of dialogue, reform and transition to democracy would only bear fruit if people who conducted it really believed in the process.

'We have to have people who believe in the process of democracy and not those who believe it cannot happen.'

The rally, for which people started to gather early in the afternoon, concluded peacefully at around 6pm.

More than 11,000 people, including women, took part in the rally, which was legal and according to the law, said the Central Governorate Police General Director.

He said that the event was peaceful and lauded the organising committee for respecting procedures, which had helped maintain general order.-TradeArabia News Service