Bahrain sacks 2,500 state workers

About 2,500 state workers in Bahrain have been dismissed from their jobs for taking part in nation-wide protests against the ruling of Al-Khalifa dynasty. The sackings have affected a total of over 13,000 people in the tiny Persian Gulf sheikhdom. Rights groups have blasted the Bahraini regime and state-linked firms for unlawfully terminating employees. Meanwhile, 40 people detained in connection with anti-regime protests have been formally charged after spending several months in custody. The charges include illegal assembly and trying to distort Bahrain's image. Thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have been holding peaceful demonstrations since mid-February, demanding an end to the authoritarian rule of the Manama regime. Scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the regime's clampdown on demonstrations. On Sunday, Pakistan agreed to dispatch more mercenaries to the Persian Gulf sheikhdom to help the Bahraini regime crackdown on protesters. Manama has been recruiting former soldiers and policemen from Pakistan at a steady rate to strengthen the government's forces. Pakistani and Saudi forces have played a major role in suppressing peaceful anti-government protests since the beginning of unrests in Bahrain.