Bahrainis stage protests on anniversary of Saudi-led incursion

Bahraini police clashed with youths protesting against the deployment into a third year of a Gulf military force that backed Manama’s bid to crush the popular uprising. Police fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse hundreds who took to the streets across several villages chanting: “No, no Saudi occupier” and “Down (King) Hamad,” the witnesses said.
On 14 March, 2011, a joint Peninsula Shield Force—led by Saudi Arabia—rolled into the strategic Gulf kingdom where protesters had camped for a month in the capital’s financial center.

“Bahrain free, free, Peninsula Shield out, out,” chanted the demonstrators, who took to the streets in response to calls for rallies by The 14 February Revolution Youth Coalition.

The protesters blocked main roads to their villages using large tree trunks, garbage containers and burning tires, and hurled petrol bombs and stones at police, witnesses said.

In a statement on Twitter, Bahrain’s interior ministry said Thursday that an act of “sabotage” took place on the main Budaiya road which links several villages.

“The road was blocked and a vehicle was set alight,” said the ministry.

Home to the US Fifth Fleet, Bahrain has continued to witness sporadic demonstrations since the Gulf force arrived, now mostly outside the capital.

No breakthrough has yet emerged from talks between the opposition and the government that began last month continues.

More than 100 people have been killed in Bahrain, mainly by security forces, since the uprising first broke out on 14 February, 2011.