Posted on 02/18/2011 9:38:49 AM PST by mojito
Bahraini security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters, witnesses and opposition activists say.
The protesters were fired on after they had streamed into the centre of the capital Manama from the funerals of protesters killed in a security crackdown earlier this week.
Witnesses said the army fired live rounds and tear gas, and officials said at least 25 people had been hurt.
Many of the protesters are calling for the overthrow of the royal family.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Twitter reports claim police are attacking protesters in the hospital with tear gas.
how unsporting!
I wish that Wisconsin would.
LLS
What a mess. This is horrible for American interests. It might be difficult to believe, but relative to the region, Bahrain is about as cosmopolitan as it comes. it's almost forward thinking. If the royal family gets the boot, things will get MUCH worse, not better - IMHO.
I wonder if FIFA still thinks awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was such a good idea.
Good ,shoot that Iranian backed Rubbish!
I’m convinced the protests are staged by Iran. I’m sure the gov of Bahrain are bad people but better than the alternative.
Any news Gramma?
The Shitte hits the fan.
How about $10.00 gallon gasoline?
Nothing new really. Everyone is still on lockdown. Manama Embassy has issued 2 notices today: 1) All American citizens are to avoid traveling to Manama (that’s a no-brainer) and 2) All U.S. citizens are to remain in their residences until further notice.
As far as today’s ugliness goes my daughter reported that the media and the embassy’s info is conflicting (surprise, surprise). Our side says that a small group of protestors started to come close to the pearl roundabout where the Bahraini Defence Force was stationed to keep people from gathering there again. The BDF warned the protestors to back off and when they didn’t, they shot 3 or 4 warning shots into the air.
But the word the embassy got was that the protestors brought bags of blood with them and poured it all over themselves when the warning shots were fired to make it look like they were hit. That of course angered the BDF and they started throwing the tear gas and everything erupted from there.
But it has been confirmed that the police had moved toward the Salminiya hospital because that’s where protestors had begun gathering and they wanted to break it up. Also word is there has begun to be a contingent of pro-govt protestors protesting the shiite protestors. Don’t know much more about that one. But if I have a choice between believing everything our media reports, or my daughter’s reports, I tend to side with my daughter over the lamestream media. Definitely seems to be some outside interference on this one, along with some media manipulation for sure.
In a nutshell everything has gone nuts and blew up again and the people are screaming for the King to be overthrown. Word is the King has asked the Crown Prince to begin talks and try to clam things down. We are all in a waiting mode to see what transpires.
My daughter is fine as long as she stays in her home, which she is doing. So far westerners are not being specifically targeted, although that could change, so its kind of a waiting mode. Still praying though that either things begin to calm down (seems like each day gets uglier than the first), or they start evacuating non-essential personnel.
thanks for the update. much appreciated.
PRAYERS AND HUGS.
Nothing new really. Everyone is still on lockdown. Manama Embassy has issued 2 notices today: 1) All American citizens are to avoid traveling to Manama (thats a no-brainer) and 2) All U.S. citizens are to remain in their residences until further notice.
As far as todays ugliness goes my daughter reported that the media and the embassys info is conflicting (surprise, surprise). Our side says that a small group of protestors started to come close to the pearl roundabout where the Bahraini Defence Force was stationed to keep people from gathering there again. The BDF warned the protestors to back off and when they didnt, they shot 3 or 4 warning shots into the air.
But the word the embassy got was that the protestors brought bags of blood with them and poured it all over themselves when the warning shots were fired to make it look like they were hit. That of course angered the BDF and they started throwing the tear gas and everything erupted from there.
But it has been confirmed that the police had moved toward the Salminiya hospital because thats where protestors had begun gathering and they wanted to break it up. Also word is there has begun to be a contingent of pro-govt protestors protesting the shiite protestors. Dont know much more about that one. But if I have a choice between believing everything our media reports, or my daughters reports, I tend to side with my daughter over the lamestream media. Definitely seems to be some outside interference on this one, along with some media manipulation for sure.
In a nutshell everything has gone nuts and blew up again and the people are screaming for the King to be overthrown. Word is the King has asked the Crown Prince to begin talks and try to clam things down. We are all in a waiting mode to see what transpires.
My daughter is fine as long as she stays in her home, which she is doing. So far westerners are not being specifically targeted, although that could change, so its kind of a waiting mode. Still praying though that either things begin to calm down (seems like each day gets uglier than the first), or they start evacuating non-essential personnel.
A sincere question - does it take our embassy being specifically threatened before our government wakes up and decides we may want to get our people out of harms way?
No pronouncements from the One?
Apparently so OB. My daughter is calm, I’m a nervous wreck! I’d feel so much better if they would just get her out of there until things calm down.
“I am deeply concerned about reports of violence in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen. The United States condemns the use of violence by governments against peaceful protesters in those countries and wherever else it may occur,” Obama said.
“The United States urges the governments of Bahrain, Libya and Yemen to show restraint in responding to peaceful protests and to respect the rights of their people.”
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=208854
And with the pronouncement, there was a slap in the face for a major US strategic ally, faced with Shiite protests that may be funded and organized in Iran.
Gosh, what a surprise.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.