They have already started using birdshot and tear gas” against the demonstrators

Bahrain halts demos as emergency rule end
by W.G. Dunlop W.g. Dunlop – 55 mins ago

DUBAI (AFP) – Bahraini security forces were accused of using violence on Wednesday to halt an attempt by pro-reform protesters to stage new demonstrations, even as a state of emergency was lifted.

The crackdown came one day after King Hamad had called for a national dialogue, and followed appeals for the authorities in the Gulf state to allow people to demonstrate peacefully.

“People are trying to gather… and they are attacking them,” one activist told AFP by telephone, referring to protests in villages around the capital Manama including Diraz, Bani Jamrah and Karzakan.

“They have already started using birdshot (and) tear gas” against the demonstrators, she said, adding that an unknown number of people had suffered injuries.

Another activist reported a heavy security presence in Bani Jamrah and said security forces had fired tear gas at protesters who dared to venture into the centre of the village.

He added that about 30 women had gathered in front of his house, but security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse them.

A clip on video-sharing website YouTube titled “Riot police attacking peaceful protesters June 1st in Bani Jamrah” showed a small group of young men gathering, some with Bahraini flags, chanting “peacefully, peacefully.” …more