Thousands of anti-government marchers
jammed a major highway in Manama, Bahrain, Friday as clashes broke out
for a second day between security forces and protesters marking the
anniversary of their uprising in the strategic Gulf nation.
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HAMAD I MOHAMMED
/ REUTERS
A protester holds a Bahraini flag as she participates in an
anti-government rally organized by Bahrain's main opposition society Al
Wefaq in Budaiya, west of Manama, on Friday.
By:
Reem Khalifa
The Associated Press,
Published on Fri Feb 15 2013
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MANAMA,
BAHRAIN—Thousands of anti-government marchers jammed a major highway
Friday as clashes broke out for a second day between security forces and
protesters marking the anniversary of their uprising in the strategic
Gulf nation.
The spike in violence
is likely to put pressure on Shiite opposition groups as they engage in
talks to ease the crisis with Bahrain’s Sunni-led government, despite
objections from hard-line factions who want to topple the Western-backed
monarchy.
In another sign of
escalating tensions, police said they found a bomb weighing 2 kilograms
on the causeway connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which closely backs
Bahrain’s monarchy. Police said bomb disposal teams defused the device,
which officials said contained “highly explosive material.”
On Thursday, a 16-year-old male and a police officer were killed on the second anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising that seeks a greater political voice in the affairs of the kingdom, which is home to the U.S. navy’s 5th Fleet.
Bahrain’s Shiites
comprise about 70 per cent of Bahrain’s more than 550,000 native-born
population, but claim they face widespread discrimination and are
blocked from key political and military roles. Nearly 60 people have
died in the unrest. Some activist groups place the toll higher.
The protesters joined a
peaceful march along a main highway linking the capital, Manama, with
Shiite areas to the west. Breakaway groups, meanwhile, clashed with riot
police in nearby neighbourhoods and fired tear gas and stun grenades.
Main Shiite political
groups opened talks this month with government and Sunni envoys to try
to ease the crisis. Washington and other Western allies of Bahrain’s
rulers have applauded the effort. But some Shiite factions oppose the
dialogue, claiming it will not weaken the Sunni dynasty’s power.
Officials said police
officer Mohammed Asif was fatally wounded from a “projectile” after
attacks from demonstrators. An earlier statement blamed Asif’s death
late Thursday on a “domestic terror act.”
Meanwhile, a separate
investigation is under way into the death of the teenager. Activists
said he was killed on Thursday by police birdshot fire.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/02/15/arab_awakening_bahrain_protesters_jam_highway_clash_with_security_forces.html