to work politically. Before the 2002 election some elements affiliated to the NLF, in co-operation with other independent activists (leftists and liberals), launched a legal political body under a new rule governing the establishment of political associations. In this way the Progressive Democratic Tribune Association (PDTA) was founded as a leftist progressive political organisation, but not as an alternative to the NLF. Since then it may appear that the PDTA has replaced the NLF, a groundless claim for which there is no documentary evidence. Moreover, the NLF never issued any statement that it has ceased to exist. The reality is that the NLF continues to exist and to struggle, though illegal and not openly active, because of the continued repression of opposition groups by the Bahrain state. Following the 2002 election, the NLF and PDTA had three members in parliament, including the deputy speaker, Abdulhadi Marhoon. However, they lost all seats at the 2006 election when Sunni and Shi‘a communal “Islamist” forces won almost all seats. See also March Intifada Majeed Marhoon National Union Committee Ahmad Al-Thawadi References National liberation Front - Bahrain website Entry in Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa http://hayatblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-post_15.html http://www.altaqadomi.com/ar-BH/ViewNews/27/19/Statements.aspx Political parties established in 1955 Political parties in Bahrain Communist parties in Bahrain Political history of Bahrain Bahrain, National Liberation Front Republicanism in Bahrain 1955 establishments in Bahrain International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties