Print Edition
TT On-The-Go
TT Feed
1580
| Bahraini forces attack pro-democracy protesters |
|
 |
 |
 |
Font Size 
Small-scale clashes have become a near nightly event in Bahrain between police and demonstrators demanding greater political rights. The street skirmishes Thursday appeared bigger and more widespread after calls on social media for stronger protest gatherings. An Associated Press journalist saw forces fire tear gas in the capital Manama and in Shia-dominated suburbs to try to disperse protesters. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Bahrainis have been waging protest rallies since mid-February, demanding an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled the country for over 40 years. Scores of people have been killed and hundreds more arrested in a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain, home to a huge American military installation for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf. In March, a number of Persian Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, deployed military forces to Bahrain in an attempt to assist the Manama regime's crackdown on peaceful protesters. Moreover, the regime has also sacked hundreds of public sector employees for supporting the protesters. The Bahraini regime announced last week that it will terminate 23 medical staff member for providing medical treatment to injured protesters. Cleric says PGCC rulers observing double standards A senior Shia cleric in Bahrain has said that Sunni rulers from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) are showing double standards by supporting Arab uprisings elsewhere while aiding Bahrain's crackdown on its pro-reform protests, AP reported. Sheik Isa Qassim said on Friday the calls for greater rights in Bahrain are being ignored by Persian Gulf neighbors that have backed other revolts, such as those in Syria and Libya. Qassim's Friday sermon did not cite specific countries, but Saudi Arabia leads a Persian Gulf military force supporting Bahrain's Sunni rulers. Last week, Saudi Arabia strongly denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for trying to crush protesters. Qatar, meanwhile, has led Persian Gulf aid to Libyan rebels.
  Socialize this Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in touch and receive all of TT updates right in your feed reader
|
|||
