Because of increased State support of education, the literacy rate in Bahrain rose from 45 per cent in 1984 to 97 per cent and 87 per cent by 2005, for young people and adults, respectively.

UNESCO: The Mother-Child Home Education Programme (MOCEP)

Although there was some additional bad news thrown at traders Tuesday (Bahrain declaring a State of Emergency and announcing that the military was taking over for the next three months leaps to mind), the attention was clearly focused on Japan.

FORBES: Big Banks Downgrade Stocks as News from Japan Appears Bleak

But it may prompt more unrest, returning Bahrain to its once-chronic state of unease.

ECONOMIST: Trouble in Bahrain

Mr Khawaja began a much-publicised hunger strike on 8 February in protest at the life sentence passed down on him and others by a military court last June during Bahrain's three-month "state of national security".

BBC: Meeting Bahrain's hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja

On Saturday, the Bahrain state-run news agency announced three days of mourning in that country and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff there and at its embassies abroad.

CNN: Funeral held for Saudi Crown Prince Nayef

"Fellow citizens of Bahrain, " the crown prince said in an address on state television.

BBC: Bahrain opposition set demands for talks with royals

Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has been dispatched to Morocco, France and Bahrain to discuss the group's membership and its mandate, AP reports.

BBC: Syria crisis: Obama condemns onslaught on Homs

Shanker Mariappan from the southern state of Tamil Nadu said his brother, Pasupathi Mariappan, hanged himself in a public garden in Bahrain.

BBC: The campaign poster of Avaaz.org