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| Arabia |
| Bahrain accuses Shias of trying to topple govt |
| 2010-09-05 |
| Bahrain’s security agency accused 23 Shia activists of forming a terrorist network aiming to topple the country’s Sunni-dominated government, a senior lawmaker said. Bahrain state TV had earlier broadcast pictures of the alleged leaders of the networks and official media said the activists had been charged. But lawyer Mohammed Al Tajir said prosecutors are still interrogating the men and have not yet pressed formal charges. Al Tajir added that he has not been allowed to meet with any of his clients since they were arrested, some of them as early as Aug. 13. Most of the activists were among some 250 Shias who have been arrested in the past month over allegations of disrupting public security. The crackdown follows a series of violent Shia-led protests accusing the government of discrimination. State TV said Saturday that the two of the alleged leaders are not in custody because they live abroad. Deputy Parliament Speaker Adel Al Moawdah said the government has been trying to negotiate with the Shia activists, but that they have insisted ‘on vandalism and terrorism.’ Most of the detained men are members of two Shia opposition groups — the HAQ Movement for Liberty and Democracy and the Islamic Wafa group. Shias are a majority in Bahrain, but the country is ruled by a Sunni royal family. Shias have long complained of discrimination. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 It's Iran doing the meddling. |
| Posted by: newc 2010-09-05 13:08 |