Bahrain riot police fire tear gas at protesters
\nPosted 2h 30m ago<\/p>\n
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) \u2014 Riot police in Bahrain fired tear gas at anti-government protesters denouncing reconciliation talks between the Gulf kingdom’s rulers and the Shiite-led opposition on Saturday just hours after the dialogue began.<\/p>\n
The renewed unrest \u2014 described by witnesses \u2014 underlines the deep tensions on the island nation after more than four months of harsh security crackdowns by the Western-allied monarchy.<\/p>\n
It also points to the political risks for Bahrain’s biggest Shiite party, Al Wefaq, which decided to join the U.S.-encouraged talks despite widespread anger among the majority Shiites \u2014 who claim they suffer systematic discrimination at the hands of the Sunni dynasty ruling Bahrain.<\/p>\n
The protesters gathered near a landmark square in Manama, which was the epicenter of the Shiite uprising for greater rights that began in February. The witnesses said several hundred marchers chanted “No dialogue” just hours after a ceremony to open the talks in the strategic nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.<\/p>\n
The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment by authorities.<\/p>\n
There were no immediate reports of injuries during the demonstrations that started after a funeral for a protester, who died on Thursday in a military hospital from injuries sustained during the unrest in March.<\/p>\n
The death of 30-year-old protester, Majid Ahmed Mohammed, brings to 32 the number of those killed since February. Bahrain’s Shiites account for 70 percent of the population, but say they face second-class status such as being effectively frozen out of top political and military posts. …more<\/a><\/p>\n