Bahrain : Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the prime minister's office in Bahrain to demand that he step down, as their campaign for reform in the tiny Gulf nation enters its third week.
Protesters massed on Sunday at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace in the capital, Manama, where Bahrain's cabinet usually meets, chanting slogans against the government and King Hamad.
Demonstrators shouted "topple Hamad! Topple Hamad!".
"Hey Khalifa, get out! Get out!" they chanted, referring to the country's long-time prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa.
"We want the prime minister to go," Alaa al-Nasr, a 24-year-old demonstrator, told the AFP news agency.
The protesters are demanding the prime minister step down because of corruption and a deadly crackdown on the opposition in which seven people were killed.
Constitutional change
Protesters also chanted for the 2002 constitution, which they say gave too much power to the monarchy, to be scrapped.
"The 2002 constitution falls for the sake of Bahrain," demonstrators said.
Al Jazeera's correspondent in Manama said there was a very large security presence outside the palace.
"There are police helicopters circling protests, which are peaceful. Not only are protesters calling for a new government and a new constitution, but also for the royal family to go," he said.
"The official opposition in parliament has accepted dialogue with the government whereas the protesters are calling for the compete overthrow of the monarchy."
In addition to the protest at Al-Qudaibiya, demonstrators remain in hundreds of tents at Manama's Pearl Roundabout, which has become the epicentre of the anti-government protests which started 21 days ago.
Bahrain's Shia majority has long complained of discrimination and political persecution in the island kingdom.
A Sunni dynasty has ruled Bahrain for two centuries.
