ABU DHABI — Shi'ite unrest has rocked Bahrain's capital city, home
to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Thousands of Shi'ites have clashed with security forces in the worst
unrest in Bahrain this year. The riots began in Manama on Nov. 29 and
continued through early Friday, Middle East Newsline reported. Dozens of people were reported injured as
much of the downtown area has been paralyzed.
Overnight Friday, about 100 Shi'ite teenagers torched police cars and
garbage bins near the Bahrain International Exhibition Center. They also
detonated gas cylinders and clashed with anti-riot police.
The violence has paralyzed much of downtown Bahrain. For hours, police
kept shoppers inside a major mall out of concern that they would be attacked
by rioters.
The Interior Ministry, which has used helicopters to quell the riots,
warned of a crackdown on law-breakers. At least 15 people were arrested in
the latest rioting.
Officials said security forces were bracing for massive unrest later on
Friday. Most of the political protests in Bahrain have taken place after
mosque services.
The latest violence stemmed from a protest campaign against unemployment
in Bahrain. They said a leading organizer, 24-year-old Mousa Abdali, had
been abducted by masked men, stripped and beaten. Abdali said his attackers
were apparently government agents.
"I was told that they would abuse my family and the other committee
members if we did not cease our activities," Abdali said.
Officials said the riots appeared linked to a split in the Shi'ite
community. They said the majority Shi'ite community has been divided into
those who seek reform and others who do not recognize Sunni rule in Bahrain,
by far the smallest oil producer in the region.
The kingdom has accused Iran of stirring unrest in the Shi'ite
community. Earlier this year, Shi'ite demonstrators in Manama carried signs
in praise of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.
On Friday, Bahrain hosts an annual Gulf dialogue, organized by the
London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, and expected to
include Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Yemen.
Organizers said Iran, which had boycotted a regional conference held in
Manama in November, would attend.
