Tuesday 15 February 2011

Bahrain police 'fire' at protesters

One dead as police reportedly fire at funeral procession for victim of Monday's violence.
Last Modified: 15 Feb 2011 07:38 GMT

Police reportedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the funeral procession [Mahmood Nasser Al-Yousif]

At least one person has reportedly been killed and several others injured after riot police in Bahrain opened fire at protesters holding a funeral service for a man killed during protests in the kingdom a day earlier.

Fadhel Ali Almatrook was hit with bird-shotgun in the capital, Manama on Tuesday morning, Maryam Alkhawaja, head of foreign relations at the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera.

"This morning the protesters were walking from the hospital to the cemetery and they got attacked by the riot police," Alkhawaja said.

"Thousands of people are marching in the streets, demanding the removal of the regime - police fired tear gas and bird shot, using excessive force - that is why people got hurt."

The incident comes a day after demonstrators observed a 'Day of Rage', apparently after being inspired by the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

Thousands came out on the streets on Monday to protest, sparking clashes with riot police.

Khalid Al-Marzook, a Bahraini member of parliament, told Al Jazeera that one person had been killed and that three others were in critical condition in hospital following Monday's violence.

Bahrain's news agency said that the country's interior minister had ordered an investigation into Monday's death.

Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has also offered his condolences to the dead man's family.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

No comments: