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| Arabia | |
| Bahraini activists prepare for Friday Day of Rage | |
| 2011-03-25 | |
| MANAMA, March 25 (Reuters) - Bahraini opposition activists will hold protests throughout the tiny island state on Friday, defying a ban on public gatherings under martial law declared last week. It was not clear who was behind the marches,
Demonstrators demanding Troops and police have fanned out across Bahrain and the government has said security is now the priority. It has banned all marches, but security forces have not broken up the funeral processions of civilians killed in the crackdown -- most of which turn into anti-government protests. Security forces also turned a blind eye last week to a brief protest outside the Drazi mosque after Friday prayers. Thousands turn out at the Drazi mosque each Friday to hear the sermon of Bahrain's top Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Issa Qassim. Wefaq, which draws crowds in the tens of thousands when it calls a protest, has distanced itself from the demonstrations on Friday, which were expected to attract mainly young people. "Wefaq affirms the need to protect safety and lives and not to give the killers the opportunity to shed Nine demonstrations appear to be planned, across different parts of Bahrain, including one headed toward the airport and one that aims to "liberate" Salmaniya hospital. Security forces raided Salmaniya hospital in the crackdown, removing several tents set up by protesters in previous weeks. Doctors and human rights groups say strict security has hampered medical access and that four medical staff have been arrested. A funeral is also planned on Friday for Hani Abdulaziz, who died after he was hit by rounds of bird shot fired by police near his home in the Shi'ite suburb of Bilad al-Qadim. A protest that had been announced in the Shi'ite suburb of Sanabis on Thursday drew less than 100 people, who did not try to move onto the main road. It ended with police firing a few rounds of tear gas and there appeared to be no casualties. "We're here because we want the end of Al Khalifa," said one protester who gave his name as Ali. "Today we will stay inside Sanabis. Tomorrow, we will go out everywhere. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |