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Arabia | ||
Bahrain's Security Forces Crack Down on Protesters | ||
2011-02-17 | ||
Bahrain's military says it has taken control of parts of the capital after riot police stormed a main square in Manama early Thursday to drive out thousands of demonstrators. Protesters demanding sweeping political change had set up camp in Pearl Square. Security forces firing tear gas, percussion grenades and rubber bullets moved into the square before dawn, attacking the mostly Shi'ite protesters - including women and children - who had occupied the area since Tuesday. Witnesses say at least four people have been killed. Many injured people were rushed to local hospitals. Meanwhile, a member of the leading Shi'ite al-Wefaq party says the opposition party may quit parliament. Earlier, Al-Wefaq leaders said the group's 18 deputies would not return to the 40-member parliament until King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa agreed to transform the nation into a constitutional democracy with an elected government. The Wall Street Journal reported that seven opposition groups, including al-Wefaq, had announced their formation of a committee to help coordinate protest activity and unify the protesters' demands. The Journal said the committee plans large demonstrations on Saturday. On Wednesday, security forces held back as tens of thousands of Bahrainis gathered, dramatically expanding pro-democracy protests. By nightfall, a massive, jubilant crowd had swelled in Pearl Square following a day of peaceful protests. Earlier, hundreds had joined a procession to mourn one of two demonstrators killed since Monday. The Khalifa family, which has ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, is Sunni Muslim and has long had tense relations with the country's Shi'ite majority, about 70 percent of the population. In 2001, voters overwhelmingly approved a national charter to lead the way toward democratic changes. But a year later, the king imposed a constitution by decree that Shi'ite leaders say has diluted the rights in the charter and blocked them from achieving a majority in the parliament.
Hours after the attack on Manama's main Pearl Square, the military announced a ban on gatherings, saying on state TV that it had "key parts" of the capital under its control. | ||
Posted by:Steve White |
#4 Quick glance amateur, not sure how SA has their stuff rigged 20? M113 APC, carry 8?, .50 turret? 4? HMMV, .50 topside? 2 support vehicles which are interesting, are they recovery sleds? Short, choppy video, maybe more footage afterwards, do not quote me on this (help if appropriate). |
Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-02-17 23:03 |
#3 I did a quick google search, and came up with this from Iran, which has video of lots of tank-like things coming up a highway with Arabic overhead road signs. If anyone can read the signs or recognized the vehicles, and is certain the video as well as the article are from today... (I don't know any of things one needs to determine any of that. Sorry.) |
Posted by: trailing wife 2011-02-17 19:09 |
#2 Saudis not amused by Shia disruptions? Whodathunkit? |
Posted by: Frank G 2011-02-17 17:58 |
#1 Breaking news from Instapundit. Saudi tanks and APCs are crossing the causeway into Bahrain. |
Posted by: Frozen Al 2011-02-17 12:17 |