Bahrain: Riot police attack protest in Malkiya

22-02-2013

(Al-Akhbar):

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds who had gathered in Bahrains western coastal town of Malkiya on Thursday to mark the two-year anniversary of the death of a young activist, witnesses reported on Twitter.

Police attacked marchers as they carried Bahraini flags and portraits of Abdulredha Buhmaid who was shot in the head on 19 February 2011 during an anti-government rally in the capital Manama. He succumbed to his wounds two days later.

Protesters in the northern isle of Sitra also held a march to mark the anniversary of the killing where they chanted anti-government slogans.

Separately Thursday evening, activists staged a spontaneous march through downtown Manama demanding the release of jailed rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

The events follow several days of unrest in villages across Bahrain.

Police have fired tear gas, sound grenades and shotgun pellets at demonstrators who have taken to the streets to pay their respects to 16-year-old Hussein al-Jaziri since his death on 14 February 2013. He was suffered a shotgun wound to the stomach during protests marking the two-year anniversary of the uprising.

At least 80 people have been killed since the start of the uprising in February 2011. A Saudi-led Gulf force entered the island in March 2011 to help crush the rebellion, but the country still witnesses almost daily protests.

The small but strategic kingdom is home to US Fifth Fleet.

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