Following are excerpts from a Shiite Bahraini cleric delivering a speech before demonstrators, which aired on the Internet on March 18, 2011:

Bahraini cleric: There are two matters in our Bahrain that I cannot explain. The first matter is the growing stupidity, which is gnawing the ideology of the Khalifa family down to the marrow. The Arabic language has failed to come up with a term to describe the stupidity of that corrupt family.

You, the people of Bahrain, the sons of Ali and Fatima, are the second thing that cannot be explained. Now, I know full well that you do not really want to topple the regime, because one cannot topple something that has already fallen. What you say is: "Leave!"

Crowds: Leave!

Bahraini cleric: Leave!

Crowds: Leave!

Bahraini cleric: The people wants the regime to leave.

Crowds: The people wants the regime to leave.

Bahraini cleric: Brothers and sisters, we are standing today at an historic juncture – to be or to cease to be. We do not place our trust in any earthly entity. We place our trust in the promise of Allah. We are believers, the sons of Karbala, the sons of the blood of Hussein. We have learned from the land of blood, the land of martyrdom. Our women are the daughters of Al-Zahra [Fatima] and Zaynab.

We set out from our faith in the promise of Allah. "Oh believers, if you support Allah, He will support you, and will plant your feet firmly [on the ground]." These events are the only thing that separates us from the state of the Imam. Allah willing, following these events, we will all be under the banner of the justice of the Mahdi.

Now, shout at the top of your lungs and from the bottom of your hearts: Oh Hussein!

Crowds: Oh Hussein!

Bahraini cleric: Oh Hussein!

Crowds: Oh Hussein!

Bahraini cleric: Oh Hussein!

Crowds: Oh Hussein!