Plans by Bahrain to create 20,000 jobs in its security apparatus could be a move to open up government jobs to the country's disgruntled Shias and appease protesters against the Sunni-led government.
Bahrain has seen its worst unrest since the 1990s after a nascent youth movement emboldened by similar protests elsewhere in the Arab world took to the streets last month and were met with heavy-handed police violence that killed seven.
The country, an ally of the United States and top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa family and its majority Shias have complained of discrimination in government jobs. The government denies this.
Bahrain's Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa told local newspaper editors on Saturday that King Hamad bin Isa had ordered a round of new hires in a number of government institutions, including 20,000 jobs in his ministry.
"We hope this step will have a positive effect on the safety and security of citizens," al-Wasat daily quoted the minister as saying. "The minister said national dialogue was the way to achieving political stability and of raising demands."
The opposition said it interpreted the announcement as an attempt to appease Shia protesters who say government jobs have been shut to them.
"I think it's mainly meant for Shias, in particular for the coming graduates. Unequal opportunities is one reason why we're having people in the street," Jasim Husain of Wefaq, the main Shia opposition group, said.
"The Ministry of Interior has been slow in creating jobs, in particular for Shias."
There is no official figure of how many are employed by Bahrain's armed forces and its police and security forces. Officials at the Ministry of Interior declined to comment but said details of the plans would be released later this week.
Bahrain has granted citizenship to Sunni foreigners serving in its armed forces, limiting the number of secure government jobs its Shia population can potentially access.