Bahrain Police Fired Tear Gas at Anti-Regime Protesters

TEHRAN – Saudi-backed security forces in Bahrain used sound grenades and tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-regime protesters on their way to an iconic square in the capital Manama, according to FNA.

The demonstrators, who chanted slogans against the Al Khalifa regime, clashed with the forces as they were trying to march to the capital’s Pearl Square following the funeral of a prisoner on Saturday, press tv reported.

“The people want the downfall of the regime,” shouted the protesters.

According to witnesses, several protesters were injured in the clashes.

The funeral for Yousif Ali al-Nashmi, who died as he was in regime custody on Friday, was held in the Western Manama suburb of Jidd Haf.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on the peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested.

Physicians for Human Rights says doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have “evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police” in the crackdown on anti-government protesters.

R.S