Anti-regime protesters clash with Bahrainian Government

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04 November 2011

Security forces in Bahrain fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters demanding greater rights for the Sunni-led Gulf kingdom's Shia majority. Hundreds of opposition supporters have been detained and tried on anti-state crimes. Witnesses yesterday said hundreds of people marched on Pearl Square, in Bahrain's capital Manama, after a massive funeral procession for a 78-year-old man who opposition groups claimed had died after being beaten by police. Authorities said the man died of natural causes. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The authorities yesterday released a teenage Iraqi football player detained for seven months on suspicion of participating in anti-government protests. The Bahraini government confirmed the Iraqi teenager was among more than 300 prisoners freed after being pardoned by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in honour of Eid al-Adha. Zulfiqar Naji's detention sparked demonstrations in Iraq and as far away as Canada by protesters calling for his release.

Comment:
More than 30 people have died since February when protests began in Bahrain, inspired by other Arab uprisings.Bahrain's Sunni monarchy has waged sweeping crackdowns against mostly Shiite protesters calling for greater rights on the strategic Gulf Arab nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/11/201111435033753811.html
Reliability: 9.5

Comments

  1. Sandy Hansmann11 November, 2011

    Thanks for an interesting summary-- I went to school with a lot of people from Bahrain, and I often wonder how they are doing!

    ReplyDelete

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