MARCH 11, 2006

Rioting in Bahrain

Riot police in Bahrain last night clashed with demonstrators, who were burning tyres and rubbish bins in the outskirts of Manama. Eleven people were reported injured. The protesters were trying to bring to world attention the arrest of a local Shiite cleric by the authorities in December. Bahrain is full of race fans and international media at the moment. According to local reports around 150 people were involved in the protests which became violent and a large area of Sanabis was cordoned off, with police refusing to allow visitors to drive to a large hotel within the cordon. Inside the cordon the authorities employed riot police and troops to quiet the disturbance and bring the area under control. This was achieved within two hours.

The ruling family belongs to the Sunni sect while most of the population is Shiite.