Bahraini forces crush Ramadan protests

Bahrain security forces on Friday dispersed protesters gathered after prayers on the first day of Ramadan, an activist told Al-Akhbar.

The protesters in the capital Manama, who were demonstrating for greater political rights, were met with tear gas and stun grenades, activist Mohammed Hassan said.

The opposition al-Wefaq party called on Bahrainis to protest in 25 locations starting at 5pm on Friday.

The crackdown comes a day after Bahraini security forces violently suppressed peaceful protests.

“Every night, there are tens of injuries due to the use of shotguns” against protesters, said Hassan, adding that the injured must treat themselves due to regulations requiring hospitals to inform the interior ministry of suspicious wounds.

An al-Wefaq statement said security forces used shotguns and tear gas to disperse protesters in Manama and in various locations around the country, causing several injuries.

The government has forbidden most protests in the capital in an attempt to quash an uprising that broke out in February 2011.

The regime's crackdown has led to allegations the country is now under martial law.

Opposition leaders and human rights activists have denounced the prohibition on peaceful protest in the capital.

"In the US and the UK, many protest in London and Washington. So why, when it comes to Bahrain, do we have to protest in the villages?" Said Yousif, deputy head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told Al-Akhbar.

(Al-Akhbar)