Competing accusations follow the fire

Lethal repression intensified anger and helped move the political crisis toward emergency rule.

Commercial closures demonstrated the capacity of merchants to turn economic action into political pressure.

Urban workers, merchants and ordinary residents increasingly joined the opposition coalition.

Hundreds of people died after the cinema was set on fire and exits were obstructed, making it one of the revolution's worst tragedies.

Funerals and public grief intensified hostility toward the state in a major oil-industry city.

Many revolution supporters believed the authorities were responsible or complicit, further weakening the monarchy's legitimacy.

The government changed leadership as protests and the Cinema Rex disaster deepened the national crisis.

The new prime minister presented himself as able to restore dialogue with religious leaders and the opposition.

The government reversed a controversial royal measure in an effort to signal respect for Islamic sensibilities.

Supporters regarded the reforms as tactical retreats that left the monarchy and security system intact.