On Feb. 12, the Interior Ministry official told parliament that the new
means would not violate international conventions. In an angry session, Saad
said anti-riot police would be equipped with rubber bullets.
"I meant the use of rubber bullets as an alternative," Saad said.
The debate took place amid rising unrest in the Sunni-led kingdom. On
Feb. 22, more than 2,000 people demonstrated for the release of at
least 22 Shi'ites arrested during recent riots. Organizers said the
detainees were not permitted to meet their families in advance of their
trial, which began on Saturday.
"We want these men to be released by the authorities," Hassan Mushaima,
a member of the Shi'ite-dominated Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy,
said.
Officials said Bahraini police and security forces were being trained
and equipped as part of an effort to quell the nearly nightly clashes
with Shi'ite rioters. They said the security forces would be provided with
sub-lethal munitions and trained in new anti-riot tactics.
Opposition deputies said the widespread use of tear gas by police has
led to serious injuries or death. They said the gas has resulted in
sustained health complications.
"He [Saad] says that they use natural substances, while he wants an
article allowing police to use chemical substances to disperse rioters,"
Khalil Al Marzouq, the chairman of parliament's Legislative and Legal
Affairs Committee, said. "This article should be removed from the law,
because it is unnecessary since the government says it doesn't use
anything chemical, while this law specifically deals with chemical
substances."
