19th/20th/21st July 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrain: 3 arrested in connection to bombing outside mosque
Bahrain says authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with a bombing last week outside a mosque near the royal residences in the Gulf kingdom. The blast pointed to a widening campaign by more militant factions in the opposition. Bahrain has experienced over two years of unrest stemming from the Shiite majoritys demands for a greater political role in the Sunni-ruled island nation, which is home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet. Bahrains Interior Ministry said Sunday the three suspects were brought before a public prosecutor, but no other details were immediately given. No one was injured in Wednesdays blast. Read More The most recent attack on the home of Abbas Isa alMadi, chairman of parliament's Services Committee, follows one on July 15 in which was no one was hurt. Pictures published by BNA showed re damage to walls surrounding the house. The Sunni Muslim-ruled island, home of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been buffeted by political turmoil since 2011, when mostly Shi'ite Muslim protesters took to the streets calling for democratic reforms and more say in government. Read More Read More February 14 Coalition youth group, witnesses and activists said.

Policeman, protesters wounded in Bahrain clashes

Bahraini security forces clashed with anti-regime protesters early Friday, leaving several people wounded including a policeman who was shot with a home-made gun, the interior ministry and witnesses said. Hundreds took part in protests that erupted late Thursday and lasted until the early hours of Friday across several Shiite villages after a call was issued by the opposition

"We will remove you (King) Hamad," was the banner slogan issued by the opposition group to rally protesters against the Sunni monarch, witnesses said. Police red birdshots to disperse the protesters, witnesses said, while the interior ministry said on Twitter that "security forces confronted a terror group in Diraz" village near Manama during clashes that left a policeman wounded after he was shot with a homemade gun. Read More Police and youths clashed across several villages dominated by the majority Shia on Friday after a series of raids against protesters houses. The increase in violence comes amid the political vacuum as talks between the government, its backers among the minority Sunni community and representatives of the Shialed opposition fail to make progress.

Bahraini parliamentarian's house attacked for second time

Assailants attacked the home of a Bahraini member of parliament with petrol bombs on Sunday for the second time in a week, the state news agency BNA said, the latest in a series of assaults on public ofcials and security personnel in the kingdom.

Bahrain violence on rise after car bomb

Fierce clashes erupted across Bahrain on Friday as the strategic island state faces another surge in protester violence amid heightened tensions after a car bombing earlier this week targeted a mosque in the ruling familys heartland.

wounded after being shot by a homemade gun. The protests, which erupted late Thursday and lasted until the early hours of Friday, were called by the opposition February 14 Coalition youth group, according to witnesses cited by AFP. We will remove you [King] Hamad, was reportedly the banner slogan issued by the group to rally protesters against the Sunni monarch. Read More Wednesday while worshipers were praying inside the mosque. "Three suspects were arrested following a nationwide investigation and were referred to the public prosecution," the interior ministry said in a statement, adding a detailed report of the incident will be soon released. Read More

Dozens injured in Bahrain as police, protesters exchange fire - reports

Dozens of people were reportedly injured in Bahrain early Friday, after police red birdshot to disperse hundreds of antigovernment protesters in several Shiite villages. A policeman was also

UK Encourages Chemical Weapons Use In Bahrain, Syria OpEd

Little Sajida Faisal had only just come into this world. But ve days after her birth, she was dead, killed by suffocation from tear gas. She died on 11 December, a Sunday, in 2011 in her family home in the Bahraini village of Belad al-Qadeem. Her father later told how Bahraini riot police had been ring tear gas into the

streets for several days without stop. The whole village was under a toxic cloud of chemical gas, and with military checkpoints everywhere, the residents of Belad al-Qadeem were effectively held hostage, forced to breathe in the deadly fumes. The family tried their best to shield the baby from the smoke seeping into the home. Her mother dabbed Sajidas face with water and that of her older sister, three-year-old Sarah. But it was no good. Sajidas father said the newborn babys skin began to turn blue and then she died. Read More

3 arrested over car bombing near Bahrain mosque

Bahraini police said Sunday that three suspects were arrested in connection with a car bombing near a mosque in West Riffa, south of the capital Manama. The blast, which caused no casualties, took place