RENEE MONTAGNE, Host:
For the last several months, Shiites in eastern Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have been protesting what they say is harsh discrimination at the hands of their Sunni-run governments. This week, there was a change. The king of Bahrain released nearly 200 prisoners. Among them are two leading Shiite opposition leaders who have been set free in an apparent move to diffuse tension in that tiny kingdom. Kelly McEvers reports.
KELLY MCEVERS: But Kalil al-Marzouk(ph), a Shiite opposition leader in the Bahraini parliament, says this is just an excuse to ignore Shiites' local demands.
MONTAGNE: This isn't all the old story that always they talk about Iran, of people demanding a constitutional reform or stopping this discrimination. What Iran will do with this? If somebody is worried about the relationship between Iran and U.S., you sort it out with the political relationship, your diplomatic relationship, no. But don't put the cost on your people.
MCEVERS: For NPR News, I'm Kelly McEvers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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