In Grand Prix warm-up lap, Bahrain’i security forces and occupying Saudi thugs target practice on Democracy Seekers

Bahrain police open fire at protesters in capital
Activists shout slogans during a rally outside the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC, recently. The American Council for Freedom in Bahrain and other organisations held a rally against rights abuses in Bahrain. Picture: AFP
DUBAI

Saturday, June 4, 2011
BAHRAINI police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching toward the landmark Pearl Square in the country’s capital yesterday, two days after authorities lifted emergency rule.

The downtown square was the focus of weeks of Shia-led protests against Sunni rulers earlier this year. Witnesses in the tiny island kingdom said there were no immediate reports of casualties among the hundreds of opposition supporters who again took their grievances to the streets.

The country’s security force moved against the protesters shortly before Formula One’s governing body deemed the kingdom safe enough to host the Bahrain Grand Prix in October.

The annual F1 race has been Bahrain’s most profitable international event since 2004, when the island nation became the first Arab country to stage the Grand Prix. Bahrain organisers insisted they are ready to host the race this year despite the deadly crackdown. The season-opening March auto race was postponed because of political unrest. The Bahraini government lifted emergency rule Wednesday.

Tanks and soldiers left the heart of capital, but authorities warned they were not easing pressure on anti-government protesters. Opposition groups have called supporters to return to the streets, the first such appeal since the military overran the protesters’ encampment at Pearl Square after martial law was imposed in mid-March.AP …source