Bahrain police teargas protesters, pepper spray women

Bahrain police teargas protesters, pepper spray women
Published Friday, October 12, 2012
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/bahrain-police-teargas-protesters-pepper-spray-women

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of peaceful demonstrators in Bahrain's capital Friday in the monarchy's latest attempt to clamp down on dissent.

Protesters had gathered in downtown Manama waving the national flag and raising pictures of their jailed relatives while calling for their release before being attacked by riot police.

Ten arrests were reported.

"Hundreds were carrying flags and demanding freedom and self-determination when, without warning, the police started firing tear gas and stun grenades," Said Yousif, deputy head of the Bahrain Center for Human Right, told Al-Akhbar.

The activist said police aimed directly for demonstrators' heads before firing the tear gas canisters. He also witnessed women being attacked in the face with pepper spray.

He added that security had blocked roads before the 3:30pm demonstration to prevent people from participating. The march was called for two weeks ago by the February 14 Movement.

"All the roads leading into Manama were blocked. The whole city was surrounded with police checkpoints, and there were helicopters flying overhead," he said. "Hundreds of cars were turned back."

Video shows demonstrators running after police attack:

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior claimed "thugs" had instigated the violent police response.

"Groups of thugs were involved in rioting, vandalism and hurling Molotov cocktails at policemen in Manama. Police restored order," the ministry posted on Twitter.

Witnesses said there were no Molotov cocktails or any violent actions on the part of the demonstrators as there have been in previous protests.

A second protest outside the capital reportedly took place without violence.

Bahrain has witnessed ongoing opposition protests since February, 2011 calling for the overthrow of the monarchy.

Security forces responded by launching a bloody crackdown on dissidents and activists. The monarchy also targets medical workers who treat injured protesters.

Saudi troops were ushered into Bahrain in March, 2011 to help crush the movement, but protests against the tyrannical regime persist.

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch and a group of US congressmen separately called on the country's monarch to release nine medics who treated activists injured during the uprising.

The medics were all charged earlier this year and released on bail, but re-arrested after an October 1 court decision upheld their charges.

The charges included possession and concealment of white weaponry (non-firearms) to serve a terrorist purpose, and for illegal assembly and inciting hatred. The sentences range from one month to five years.

At least 80 people have been killed since the uprising began, according to activist figures.

Bahrain's autocratic royal family, which has maintained a tight grip over the country for more than a century, is a strategic US ally and hosts the US Fifth Fleet.

(Al-Akhbar)