Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
iv. The intent to form an interim government within 60
days.
g. The “Public Safety” Decree will be annulled and the GCC
Forces will withdraw from Bahrain if there are no violent
incidents.
526. According to opposition sources, Al Wefaq and the other political
societies accepted this US proposal, while the GoB did not respond to this
initiative.
527. According to opposition sources, it was suggested that the Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, HE Sheikh
Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, could act as the sponsor of the
proposed United States initiative. Opposition sources also indicated that the
Emir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani,
attempted to mediate between the GoB and opposition parties in the following
days, and that this initiative was accepted by the opposition but rejected by the
GoB.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
528. During the day, the GoB of Bahrain took active steps to address the
general state of insecurity and the breakdown of law and order that had existed
for several days throughout Bahrain. In addition, measures were taken to put
down the demonstrations and political protests that had been taking place in
various areas of Manama and neighbouring cities and villages.
529. The most significant events of the day were the second clearing
operation at the GCC Roundabout and the clearing of protesters from both the
Bahrain Financial Harbour and SMC. At 05:00, the BDF Commander-in-
Chief, Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, arrived at the
staging area that had been prepared for the operation to the north east of the
GCC Roundabout. The BDF Commander-in-Chief oversaw the overall
operation, which had been divided into three phases and was executed
primarily by police. In addition, units from the National Guard were deployed
to provide assistance and support the police. The BDF deployed a number of
its armed units to provide general theatre protection for the advancing forces.
The BDF units were also ordered to be prepared to defend against any
possible foreign intervention. These units remained under the operational
control of each of their respective field commanders and agency heads. The
total number of personnel deployed for the operation exceeded 5,000. The
Royal Bahraini Air Force deployed two Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters
and two Bell 212 Twin Huey helicopters. These aircraft were neither involved
in any assaults nor did they fire any of their weapons during the operation.
530. The first phase of the operation, which commenced at 05:30, began
with the use of a megaphone to order the protesters camped at the GCC
Roundabout to vacate the area. Most of the demonstrators left the roundabout,
but one group of protesters decided to stay. Therefore, police began
approaching the roundabout from several directions, including from
underneath the overpass adjacent to the roundabout and from the direction of
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