Manama: Bahraini police fired tear gas and stun bombs to break up protests overnight in predominantly Shiite villages around Manama, leading to arrests and injuries, witnesses said on Saturday.
The protesters took to the streets in response to a call by the February 14 Youth Coalition for rallies against a blockade imposed on the Shiite locality of Mahazza, near the capital, since November 7.
“The blockade will not make us afraid,” chanted the protesters, in reference to King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa.
The protesters, some of whom wore masks, waved the Bahraini flag and pictures of prisoners.
Police fired tear gas and sound bombs as the protests got unruly, leading to some injuries, according to the witnesses who did not specify the number of casualties.
Police detained several demonstrators, and the skirmishes continued until dawn on Saturday, according to the witnesses.
The United States last week expressed concern about the situation in Bahrain, one year after an inquiry report was issued on the unrest, saying the country needed to put more of its recommendations into effect.
