The stakes in Bahrain are high. This is the first serious insurrection in the wealthy Gulf states—more dangerous to the Saudis than the Islamists who took over the centre of Mecca more than 30 years ago—and Bahrain’s al-Khalifa family realise just how fraught the coming days will be for them. … The Prince apparently offered a series of reforms and government changes which he thought the cleric had approved. But the demonstrators stayed in the square. They demanded the dissolution of parliament. Then came the police.