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| Arabia | |
| Bahraini Forces Tear-Gas Protesters ahead of Uprising Anniversary | |
| 2012-02-13 | |
[An Nahar] 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 Agence La Belle France Presse.
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, epicenter 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. | |
| Posted by:Fred |