Protesters Occupy Bahrain Square

Anti-government demonstrators have held their ground in the capital.

Bahrainis appear to be using the Egyptian uprising as a how-to guide, and have occupied Pearl Square in Manama just as Egyptians set up camp in Cairo’s Tahrir Square last month. Thousands of people spent the night in makeshift tents in Pearl Square, demanding sweeping political reforms ranging from higher wages to better housing and an end to the country’s 200-year-old monarchy. Two people have died since protests began Monday. The island nation is majority Shiite but ruled by Sunni royalty, and Shiites have long alleged they are discriminated against. Bahrain is of major strategic importance to the U.S., which anchors its Navy’s 5th Fleet in the country’s ports in order to provide a sustained U.S. military presence in the volatile region.