Bahrain opposition, future king hold rare meeting

• First time in nearly three years that a member of the ruling family met opposition leaders
• Shiites in Bahrain began protesting in early 2011 to seek greater political rights
• Reconciliation talks had been suspended last week

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain's state television has broadcast images of the crown prince meeting with top opposition leaders one week after reconciliation talks were suspended.

Shiite opposition bloc al-Wefaq released a statement Monday after the face-to-face with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa saying that it hoped the meeting would result in concrete steps.

A participant in the talks, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the situation, said no foreign diplomats attended the meeting that took place at the prince's palace. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

It was the first time in nearly three years that a member of the ruling family met opposition leaders.

Shiites in Bahrain began protesting in early 2011 to seek greater political rights from the Gulf Arab nation's Sunni rulers.