Bahrain on edge: Nightly clashes and calls for more protests
\nBy Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, September 1, 10:36 AM <\/p>\n
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates \u2014 It\u2019s become a nightly duel in Bahrain: Security forces and anti-government protesters waging hit-and-run clashes in one of the simmering conflicts of the Arab Spring.<\/p>\n
So far, the skirmishes have failed to gel into another serious challenge to the Gulf nation\u2019s Western-backed monarchy after crushing a reform rebellion months ago. But there are sudden signs that Shiite-led demonstrators could be poised to raise the stakes again on the strategic island, which is home to the U.S. Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of demonstrators Wednesday made their boldest attempt in months to reclaim control of a central square in the capital Manama, which was the symbolic hub of the protest movement after it began in February. Riot police used buses to block roads and flooded streets with tear gas to drive back the marchers before dawn.<\/p>\n
Hours later, mourners gathered in a Shiite village in another part of Bahrain for a 14-year-old boy they claim was killed by security forces. Clashes flared until early Thursday across the oil hub area of Sitra before the boy\u2019s burial.<\/p>\n
\u201cDown with the regime,\u201d chanted some of hundreds of people in the funeral procession. \u201cMore protests.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some waved the flag of the Libyan rebels, who are closing in on the remnants of Moammar Gadhafi\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
Bahrain remains the outlier of the Arab revolts.<\/p>\n
Its Sunni rulers have managed to hold their ground \u2014 and even tighten their grip with military help from neighboring Saudi Arabia \u2014 against majority Shiites demanding a greater political voice. Washington and Western allies have denounced the punishing crackdowns, but been mild when it comes to Bahrain\u2019s ruling dynasty. The possible risks from a harder line appear too great. They include jeopardizing key Arab military relationships on Iran\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n
Washington\u2019s Gulf Arab allies argue any gains for Bahrain\u2019s Shiites could open the door for influence by Iran\u2019s Shiite regime.<\/p>\n
Bahrain\u2019s Shiite leaders strongly deny any links to Iran. They note that their fight for greater rights goes back decades \u2014 and is now re-energized by the pro-democracy wave across the Arab world.<\/p>\n
In July, the Shiite political bloc walked out of government-led reconciliation talks, claiming they failed to address key demands such as ending the monarchy\u2019s ability to hand-pick the government. Shiites also appear ready to boycott parliament elections on Sept. 24 \u2014 an act that state media has called treason.<\/p>\n
Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain\u2019s 525,000 citizens, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being barred from top political and security posts. Last week, Bahrain\u2019s most senior Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, told worshippers that the country\u2019s rulers can either embrace reforms or risk the same fate as Libya\u2019s Gadhafi.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t they learn from the fall of dictatorships and see what happens to those who denied their people basic rights?\u201d Qassim said as police helicopters patrolled over his mosque. \u201cWe now see what happens to the Libyan dictator, just as what happened to Tunisian and Egyptian despots.\u201d
\n …more
\n<\/a><\/p>\n