Bahrain tear-gases protesters ahead of anniversary

Feb. 12, 2012 AFP

A Bahraini Shiite waving a national flag in central Manama in 2011.
Security forces in Bahrain used tear gas on Sunday against hundreds of
protesters trying to approach Manama's former Pearl Square, the focal
point of a month of Shiite-led protests last year, witnesses told AFP.
(AFP Photo/Joseph Eid)Enlarge Photo

A Bahraini Shiite waving a national flag in central Manama in 2011.
Security forces …

Security forces in Bahrain used tear gas on Sunday against hundreds of
protesters trying to approach Manama's former Pearl Square, the focal
point of a month of Shiite-led protests last year, witnesses told AFP.

Several small groups of demonstrators numbering several hundred people
tried to march from Shiite neighbourhoods around the capital to the square
ahead of Tuesday's first anniversary of the outbreak of the 2011 protests.

But the witnesses said police used tear gas and sound grenades against the
protesters, who were chanting slogans demanding reform, and prevented them
from reaching the square.

It was not immediately known if there were any casualties.

Security personnel had deployed in force on Sunday after calls by the
opposition and activists for protests marking the anniversary, activists
and witnesses said.

Activists had called for demonstrations on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
towards Pearl Square, epicentre of the protest that erupted on February 14
last year and was crushed a month later, said Mohammed Maskati, head of
the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.

Witnesses reported a heavy security presence at main junctions in Manama
from Sunday morning, especially at the Al-Farook interchange that was
built on Pearl Square, which was razed a day after the protest was
crushed.

Several checkpoints were set up and caused traffic jams, especially around
the afternoon rush hour, they added.

Last year's crackdown by the Sunni-ruled nation led to the deaths of 35
people, including five security personnel and five detainees who were
tortured to death, an independent commission of inquiry appointed by King
Hamad found.