Taking back Bahrain's 'Tahrir'

Bahrainis rejoice after army and police retreat from Pearl roundabout just days after violent clashes there.

Al Jazeera Online Producer

"MANAMA, BAHRAIN Young men jubilantly wave national flags and white banners with "peace" written in Arabic and English. Small children bearing roses know nothing of the politics, but they approach Pearl monument with glee, holding hands with proud parents.

Strangers greet each other as if at a party, and vehicles passing nearby honk as if the country has just won a football match against the national rival.

Fear is unexpectedly gone from the air.....

Joyful, despite mourning

The thousands of protesters were no doubt thrilled to be back in the middle of what is now referred to as Bahrain's "Tahrir" - and also as "Martyrs’ Square" - in honour of the half-dozen people who have been killed there.

Nabeel Murad, a 38-year-old protester who works at an aluminum plant, explained that Egypt and Bahrain are different.

"We just have one million people. They lost several hundred, but out of a population of more than 80 million. You see why we've had enough," he said.

Though they have resumed camping out in the square, political tension remains acute and the threat of further security crackdowns looms....."