Bahrainis Hold Mass Protests Despite Violent Crackdown

The Bahraini people continued mass anti-regime demonstrations across the Persian Gulf country on Friday despite the ongoing violent crackdown on protests.

Witnesses say a number of protesters were injured after regime forces opened fire to disperse the crowd on Friday.

On Thursday, Bahraini women staged an anti-regime protest in the village of Mahaza in solidarity with jailed female activists.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty’s over-40-year rule.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar – were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13, 2011, to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.

So far, tens of protesters have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and thousands of others have been injured.

Police clampdown on protesters continues daily. Authorities have tried to stop organized protests by opposition parties over the past month by refusing to license them and using tear gas on those who turn up.

The opposition coalition wants full powers for the elected parliament and a cabinet fully answerable to parliament.