Emeute à سترة Sitra après la mort d’un manifestant – 16 septembre 2011

Clashes erupt in Bahrain after protester funeral

AP

16 09 2011

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Security forces clashed with thousands of mourners and opposition factions Friday after the funeral march for a man whose relatives say died after inhaling tear gas fired at Shiite-led protesters in the Gulf kingdom.

The skirmishes erupted shortly after mourners joined in anti-government chants that included cries for Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to step aside after more than seven months of unrest on the strategic island, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Tensions could further increase before next week’s elections to fill 18 seats in the 40-member parliament that were abandoned in a walkout by Shiite lawmakers to protest the sweeping crackdowns. Top Shiite political blocs have called for a boycott of the Sept. 24 voting.

Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades and chased protesters along narrow streets of Shiite-populated neighborhoods in Sitra, Bahrain’s oil hub.

Before the funeral, Bahrain’s most senior Shiite cleric accused Sunni authorities of treating opponents as « enemies of state. » Bahrain’s rulers have taken some steps at outreach, including reconciliation talks in July, but they have failed to quell the opposition. Read more…