Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Bahrain police fire at protesters


Opposition group suspends parliamentary participation after another person is killed in firing at funeral procession.

Al-Jazeera

"At least one person has been killed and several others injured after riot police in Bahrain opened fire at protesters holding a funeral service for a man killed during protests in the kingdom a day earlier.

Fadhel Ali Almatrook was hit with bird-shotgun in the capital, Manama, on Tuesday morning, Maryam Alkhawaja, head of foreign relations at the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera.

"This morning the protesters were walking from the hospital to the cemetery and they got attacked by the riot police," Alkhawaja said.

"Thousands of people are marching in the streets, demanding the removal of the regime - police fired tear gas and bird shot, using excessive force - that is why people got hurt."

At least 25 people were reported to have been treated for injuries in hospital.

An Al Jazeera correspondent in Bahrain, who cannot be named for his own safety, said that police were taking a very heavy handed approach towards the protesters.

"Police fired on the protesters this morning, but they showed very strong resistance," our correspondent said....

Online reaction

Amira Al Hussaini, a Bahraini blogger
that monitors citizen media for Global Voices Online, told Al Jazeera that there has been a huge outpouring of anger online in Bahrain.

"What we've seen yesterday and today, is a break from the normal routine - people like me, that are not necessarily in favour of the protests that are happening in Bahrain at this time, are now speaking out," she said.

"I am trying to remain objective but I can't - people are being shot at close range.".....

"This is being pitted as a sectarian issue - the Shia wanting to overthrow the regime. But it is not a Shia uprising."

She said that people from all backgrounds and religions are behind the protests."

No comments: