Bahrain Feature: Protests and Clashes Across the Kingdom Tonight
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 21:36
Josh Shahryar in Bahrain, EA Middle East and Turkey, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Middle East and Iran

Follow Josh Shahryar on Twitter

More protests were reported from Bahrain today, mainly concentrated in several villages around the capital Manama and in Sitra, to the southeast. In almost all cases, protesters were suppressed by security forces.   

Sitra: 

In Sitra, several hundred protesters gathered tonight to demand the freedom of detained protesters and to call for the downfall of King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa. The protest, with the significant participation of women, carried banners and Bahraini flags. Eyewitnesses from the scene reported that protesters were chanting, "Peaceful, Peaceful" and "We want freedom".

Images of women and a banner that reads, "Down with Hamad": 

When protesters approached the line of security forces, the police fired tear gas and other non-lethal weapons to disperse the crowds. The video shows the moment of a sudden attack : 

Eyewitnesses described the scene in the area of the protest as "raining tear gas". Protesters tried to remain in the area, but were driven out by continuous firing of tear gas fire; they were forced to run and hide in homes. The police continued to pursue some of the demonstrators and indiscriminately fired tear gas at houses which they suspected were sheltering protesters. 

Image of tear gas fired on a home: 

Beyond Sitra, protests were also held in Al Dair, north of Manamah; Al Musalla and Jidhafs, to the west of Manamaa; the island of Nabi Saleh, north of Sitra; and in Shahrakan on the western edge of the kingdom.

Al Dair: 

Video of protesters being attacked with tear gas by police and mercenaries: 

Cloud of tear gas after protesters are dispersed: 

Armed mercenaries in civilian clothes among the ranks of security forces:

The broken door of a house after police attacked it in pursuit of protesters:

Candle light vigil for fallen protesters: 

Al Musalla: 

Protesters marching: 

Shahrakkan

Tear gas clouding the street after hundreds of protesters were dispersed by police: 

Jidhafs

Video of protesters marching before they were dispersed by police: 

Article originally appeared on EA WorldView (http://www.enduringamerica.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.