Bahrain State of Emergency: Saudi Troops Fight Protesters

by NowPublic Staff | March 15, 2011 at 09:35 am

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Saudi Soldiers Sent to Bahrain to Fight Demonstrators

Anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain continue. King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa has declared a state of emergency, and the capital city of Manama is basically shut down. Thousands of protesters continue to occupy Pearl Roundabout, as they have done since last month.

The Shiite majority is looking to overthrow the Sunni government, which is using lethal force to defend itself. According to eyewitness reports, government troops and police are shooting at unarmed people in the streets.

Saudia Arabia has sent roughly 1,000 troops to quell the protests, as the Saudi government is increasingly nervous about its own population: the Bahrain protests have been going on for weeks, and Saudi Arabia doesn't want its own populace to get further emboldened.

The first Day of Rage protest in Saudi Arabia fizzled, but there is at least one more scheduled.

The United Arab Emirates has sent 500 police officers to Bahrain to assist the faltering Bahraini government.

Abdullah Al Hubaaishi, a Bahraini who was making his way to the protest camp at Pearl Roundabout in Manama, told Al Jazeera that there were many wounded protesters on the streets in Sitra.

"Most of them have been shot," he said, adding that those shooting were Saudi soldiers.