Middle East protests: Calls for calm in Bahrain

King Hamad of Bahrain has asked his eldest son, Crown Prince Salman, to start a national dialogue to resolve the Gulf state's political crisis.

But Bahrain's main Shia opposition group has said said the government must resign first and troops should be withdrawn from the streets of the capital Manama.

Troops fired on demonstrators trying to march into the centre of the city on Friday, wounding at least 50.

US President Barack Obama has phoned King Hamad to urge restraint.

Caroline Hawley reports.