Saudi Arabian forces prepare to enter Bahrain after day of clashes

The Guardian

Monday 14 March 2011

Crown Prince of Bahrain expected to invite Saudi support following anti-government demonstrations in capital

Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island’s royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain’s financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital’s central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom’s 525,000 residents.

The crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said in a televised statement that Bahrain had « witnessed tragic events » during a month of unprecedented political unrest.

Warning that « the right to security and safety is above all else », he added: « Any legitimate claims must not be made at the expanse of security and stability. »

The crown prince has also promised that national dialogue would look at increasing the power of Bahrain’s parliament, and that any deal could be put to nationwide referendum. Read more…

Des manifestants bloqués devant un quartier d’affaires à Bahreïn

lexpress.fr

13/03/2011 à 09:45

La police bahreïnie a barré l’une des principales artères de Manama pour tenir à distance des opposants qui avaient l’intention d’interdire l’accès au Financial Harbour, un quartier d’affaires de la capitale.

Les forces de l’ordre déployées en nombre ont fait usage de gaz lacrymogène pour repousser plusieurs dizaines de manifestants en direction de la place de la Perle, épicentre de la contestation qui agite l’île depuis plusieurs semaines.

Les effectifs des forces de l’ordre dépassaient largement ceux des manifestants, mais des centaines de personnes se dirigeaient vers le secteur, survolé par des hélicoptères. Des ambulances ont été dépêchées sur place. Lire la suite…

Par Reuters

Bahrein,scontri polizia-dimostranti

tgcom.mediaset.it

13 03 2011

Manifestazione bloccava autostrada

09:03 – La polizia del Bahrein in tenuta antisommossa ha lanciato gas lacrimogeni contro un gruppo di manifestanti che stava bloccando un’importante autostrada. La manifestazione era stata organizzata probabilmente in risposta agli attacchi contro i dimostranti avvenuti due giorni fa davanti al palazzo presidenziale di Manama, la capitale.

~ par Alain Bertho sur 13 mars 2011.

Publié dans émeutes, riots, الشغب