SHAFAQNA (Shia News Association) - Bahraini people continued demonstrations on Sunday in a show of defiance of a government communiqué warning a still harsher crackdown on protesters.The demonstrators clashed with the riot police carrying out arrest raids in the tiny Persian Gulf island.The demonstrators condemned the ruling Al Khalifa family for banning all upcoming opposition rallies. Government forces fired tear-gas to disperse the protesters.
Bahrain says it will not approve further opposition marches, claiming they disrupt everyday life. Dozens of state-authorized opposition marches have been held, but most demonstrations are spontaneous street protests that lead to clashes.
The government's decision is likely to escalate confrontations between the monarchy and the protesting people, specially the Shiite majority, which is exposed to systematic discrimination.
AP report about the protests saying:
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain have clashed with police in widespread demonstrations against moves by authorities to ban opposition rallies.
The clashes on Saturday included demonstrators hurling fire bombs and challenging riot police carrying out arrest raids in the strategic Gulf kingdom.
Bahrain says it will not approve further opposition marches, claiming they disrupt everyday life. Dozens of state-authorized opposition marches have been held, but most demonstrations are spontaneous street protests that lead to clashes.
The government's decision is likely to escalate confrontations between the Sunni monarchy and protesters led by Bahrain's Shiite majority, which claims it faces systematic discrimination.
More than 50 people have died in unrest since February 2011.
Where as RT made their report about the protests saying :
Anti-government protesters have hurled fire bombs and clashed with police in Bahrain, as the country was gripped by demonstrations against the recently imposed ban on rallies. The demonstrators condemned the ruling Al Khalifa family for banning all upcoming opposition rallies. Government forces fired tear-gas to disperse the protesters, claims the Bahrain Freedom Movement website.
Bahrain says it will not be approving any further civil actions of the opposition in order to prevent street violence and disruption to traffic.
"Holding these marches will damage people's interests and hold up traffic," public security chief Tariq al-Hassan told state news agency BNA on Thursday, adding that march organizers had not been able to control them in the past.
Another senior official insists the government has no plans to ban rallies outright, but wants to make sure the protests stop taking a violent turn. The government also says the Interior Ministry is making up a list of "approved locations" for rallies.
However, the opposition views the move as a new attempt to silence them.
“This will lead to more escalation since people now feel no hope. There is no chance to practise their freedom, they have cornered everybody now,” said Abduljalil Khali, a senior member of the opposition Wefaq Party.
Amnesty International has slammed the bans, pointing out Bahrain is violating fundamental rights.
Since April, the Sunni authorities have stepped up efforts to crack down on the unrest lead by the Shiite majority. Activists cite an increased use of shotgun pellets, which the authorities neither confirm nor deny.
More than 50 people have died since the uprising flared up in the Gulf kingdom, where the US Fifth Fleet is stationed, in February 2011.
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