Friday, February 18, 2011

Bahrain: Thousands funeral turned into mass protest

In Bahrain large crowds to funerals for four killed demonstrators streamed. This "martyr funerals" They used to protest against the new political leadership. President Wulff has canceled a planned trip to the Gulf state already. He was only 22 years old. Mahmoud Abu Maki Taki was killed during the protests in Bahrain when the police brutally into the night on Thursday took action against protesters.


On Friday he and three other people were buried - and the funeral, thousands of people gathered to protest. According to eyewitnesses, on Friday morning, around 15,000 people flocked to the "Martyrs' funerals." They called for the overthrow of King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa. "The regime has destroyed something in me," said the brother of a slain.

"We have demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister, but now we demand the overthrow of the entire royal family." The influential Shiite cleric Sheikh Issa Kassim said after his Friday sermon in a mosque in the village Darras, the police attack on demonstrators a "great massacre" had been.

The police had planned in advance to kill the demonstrators, not to sell. Lulu on the Square are now back troops in the field, aimed at preventing new protests. The police bothered the mourners, according to reporters on the ground at first. At the same time gathered in the capital Manama some 15,000 supporters of the king, to show their loyalty to the king and government.

In the first public statement by the Government after the bloody police action, said Foreign Minister Khalid Al Khalifa, the use was necessary because the demonstrators "polarize the country." He called the violence regrettable and stated that the police had tried "to minimize risk of loss of life" that.

The other Gulf monarchies had strengthened the ruler of Bahrain on Thursday evening at a foreign ministers meeting in Manama back. They declared that the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are all ready to support Member States if their "security and stability" is threatened. For GCC includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Arab observers now speculate whether the neighboring Saudi Arabia would send troops to Bahrain, if the security forces there should not be able to provide the demonstrators persist in the face. International was the brutal police action on the Lulu-place has been sharply criticized. At least five people were killed and more than 230 were injured when the police had taken place on Thursday against demonstrators in the capital Manama.

Then also drove tanks in the city. President Wulff says travel to Bahrain from President Christian Wulff canceled a planned trip to Bahrain next week. In view of the action come the security forces against protesters at the present time, a journey of the President to Bahrain not be considered, said a spokesman.

Of assembly and freedom of expression should be guaranteed in full. Even Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the states in the Middle East to renounce violence against demonstrators. In a telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Merkel had expressed their deep concern about events in the region expressed, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.

The exercise of freedom of expression and freedom to demonstrate is a universal right. Hand grenade injured protesters demand in Yemen on Friday, this right also angry demonstrators in other Arab states. There was a dramatic incident was in Yemen: An unknown person threw a hand grenade according to eye witnesses in a lot of demonstrating government opponents in the Yemeni city Tais.

A man was allegedly killed at least 25 were injured. Tens of thousands of opponents and supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh had demonstrated in Tais, which lies about 200 kilometers south of the capital Sanaa. In Libya, were expected again on Friday demonstrations against the head of state Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Witnesses said government opponents had spent the night on a central square in the second city of Benghazi. On Thursday evening, Gaddafi had signed in the capital Tripoli at a rally for support from government supporters, reported the official news agency Jana. According to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch during the protests on Wednesday and Thursday, 24 people were killed.

In Egypt's capital Cairo on Friday thousands of Egyptians gathered for Friday prayers and then subjected to a "victory march" to commemorate the forced resignation after 18 days of the long-time President Hosni Mubarak to Tahrir Square. The groups that had organized the protest movement said that the Friday for "Friday the victory and the continuation".

A week after the resignation of Mubarak the political situation in Egypt is still unclear. Power has promised the Supreme Council of the armed forces, the reforms. In the city of Basra in Iraq about a thousand people demonstrated for higher pensions, better retirement benefits of government and more jobs.

In addition, the protesters blocked a bridge and demanded the resignation of the provincial governor. Around 800 people were in the Gulf sultanate of Oman for a parliament with greater powers to the street. The participants chanted slogans such as "Yes to reform! No to corruption!" and "We want democracy!" eyewitnesses.

The police stopped the protesters, however, depends to move into the city center. The rally took place without violence and clashes. In Oman, which is ruled by Sultan Kabus almost absolutist, Parliament has only an advisory function. Political parties are banned.

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