BBC News Middle East 15 February 2011 Last updated at 15:46 GMT
Bahrain protests prompt global concerns By Bill Law Reporter, Crossing Continents Protest at Pearl Roundabout, Manama, 15 Feb Bahrainis tried to create their own version of Egypt's Tahrir Square As protests continue in the tiny gulf state of Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, the Americans and Saudi Arabia are monitoring events there very closely. The country, with an indigenous Shia-majority population, is ruled by a Sunni royal family, the al-Khalifas. As events in Egypt gathered pace, human rights activists in Bahrain called for a day of rage on 14 February. The result on Monday was sporadic protests in Shia villages across the island and attempts to create a "Tahrir Square movement" in downtown Manama, the capital. Footage shot by protesters and posted on the internet shows riot police attacking peaceful demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets. Thus far, the government is continuing to respond with harsh tactics. Dozens of protesters have been wounded and two killed. A 21-year-old man died on Monday after being hit by a rubber bullet. On Tuesday, at a funeral march to protest against his killing, a second man was hit by a shotgun blast and died. Constitution calls Although protesters have been routinely beaten and tear-gassed by security forces in the past, these deaths are the first of their kind in several years, and are likely to add fuel to a growing anger among ordinary Bahrainis. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
