Street violence damages Bahrain towns

About 60 masked youths damaged property in several towns in Bahrain after the government banned rallies and public gatherings, witnesses said. The attackers burned tires, garbage bins, lampposts, palm trees and water tanks and frightened drivers, causing traffic problems, in Bilad al Qadeem, Juffair, Daih, A'ali, Ras Ruman, Karzakan, Sitra, Nuwaidrat, Jid Ali, Sehla, Saar and Tubli, the Gulf News reported Monday. Some of the youths tossed Molotov cocktails at the Sitra Police Station about 1 a.m. Monday, the witnesses said. "The [police] station's walls and floor were completely damaged but there were no injuries," one witness said. "This is happening almost every day and we are getting used to it." A retired policeman told the Gulf News he was worried about the future generation. "We have a lot of family problems in our daily lives, but does that mean we kill a family member or kick them out of the house?" he asked. "No, instead we sit down and discuss the problem to find a solution." The Interior Ministry banned all rallies and public gatherings in an attempt to curb street violence, the Gulf News reported.