MANAMA: Bahrain's housing minister Monday announced plans to build 50,000 homes at a cost of at least two billion dinars ($5.32 billion), in the government's latest response to protests gripping the kingdom. Majid Al-Alawi announced that “it has been decided that 50,000 residences will be built over a five-year period in cooperation with the private sector of the kingdom of Bahrain, in different provinces of the Kingdom,” the official BNA news agency said. “The initial cost is estimated to be at least two billion Bahraini dinars,” BNA quoted Alawi as saying, adding that he expressed “hope that this order helps to contribute to forwarding the national dialogue.” Anti-government protests entered their 22nd day Monday, amid a wave of pro-democracy unrest that has gripped the region for weeks and toppled autocratic regimes in Egypt and Tunisia. King Hamad has tasked Crown Prince Salman with opening a dialogue with the opposition. Housing in the kingdom is available, especially for poorer people, for low prices with payments over a long period, which Alawi announced has now been extended from 25 to 30 years, according to BNA. BNA said that according to Alawi, there are over 46,000 people on the waiting list for housing, but “the ministry plans to reduce the waiting period to a maximum five years by 2016.” Bahrain's rulers have announced various other economic and political initiatives aimed at assuaging protesters' anger. However, the various initiatives have yet to dissuade demonstrators, who continue to keep vigil in hundreds of tents in the capital Manama's Pearl Square, the focal point for the protest movement. Pro-democracy activists earlier protested at the US embassy, calling for Washington to press the authorities for democratic reform after weeks of demonstrations. Dozens of activists gathered at a fence set up in front of the embassy, chanting slogans in English against government. US embassy political officer Ludovic Hood brought a box of doughnuts for the demonstrators as they gathered down the street from the embassy ahead of the protest rally. “These sweets are a good gesture, but we hope it is translated into practical actions,” Mohammed Hassan, 35, who wore the white turban of a cleric, told Hood. “The message we want to give is that this regime has to end, and the United States has to prove that it is with human rights, and the right for all people to decide (their) destiny,” Hassan said to Hood. “We are born free, and we want to live free.” Hood told the demonstrators who clustered around him that the United States had a “strategic relationship” with the government of Bahrain which included dialogue on human rights. “We've had a US navy presence here accepted by the great majority of people for many decades,” he said. “But part of our ongoing engagement with the government is discussions on human rights and universal rights.” Bahrain's crown prince warned all sides against escalating a standoff with disgruntled citizens seeking an elected government in the kingdom, asking for patience ahead of a national dialogue. Crown Prince Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, tapped to lead a dialogue with the opposition, said the protests would continue to be allowed but must remain peaceful.
