Egyptian soldiers keep watch from tanks in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the popular revolt that drove Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from power, as protesters continue to leave the square, February 13, 2011. Mubarak left office on Friday after 30 years in power. UPI | License Photo

MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- In an effort to stave off anti-government protests, Bahrain's king has paid $2,650 to every family "as a sign of appreciation," an official statement said.

"On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter and as a sign of appreciation for the people of Bahrain who have approved it, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa has ordered 1,000 dinars ($2,650) to be paid to every Bahraini family," BNA, the country's official news agency, said.


Bahrainis approved a national charter in February 2001 that restored a parliament dissolved in 1975. However, in February 2002, Bahrain became a kingdom ruled by a constitutional monarchy, the Kuwait Times noted. Online activists have been calling for wage protests and demanding political, social and economic reforms, the Times said.

When anti-government protests erupted in Tunisia and Egypt, Bahrain's government announced measures to support food prices and assist families in need, the Times said.

Bahrain -- with a population of about 568,000 -- is considered the poorest among its oil-rich Persian Gulf neighbors, the newspaper said.