Bahraini troops target women

There were no immediate reports of casualties or arrests during the violence in the town of Eker on Monday. According to witnesses, the women were attacked for chanting anti-regime slogans. Meanwhile, dozens of Bahraini women are still awaiting their court sessions over chanting anti-government slogans in a shopping mall in the capital several weeks ago. Their trial is expected to begin next week. Al-Wefaq, the main opposition bloc in Bahrain, says the women have been tortured by forces loyal to the ruling Al Khalifa family. Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging regular demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling on the US-backed Al Khalifa family to relinquish power. On March 14, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist Bahraini rulers in their brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-government protesters. According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the regime crackdown.