Bahraini forces fire tear gas at protesters

Bahraini security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters following a day of massive anti-regime rallies across the Persian Gulf kingdom. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the village of Jannusan, West of the capital Manama, and a number of other towns on Friday, press tv reported. The demonstrators held up pictures of journalists and activists who have been arrested for organizing or taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations. The Bahraini police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Scores of Bahraini activists have been placed behind bars across the country, which is supported by a number of western countries, particularly the United States and Britain, despite its appalling human rights record. Moreover, lengthy prison sentences imposed on political activists come in conjunction with acquittals of the police officers and troops who killed protesters in the brutal crackdown against peaceful protests on February 14, 2011. Many prisoners continue to complain of torture and assault during their detention and interrogation to coerce them into making false confessions. Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous demonstrations on the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on demonstrators. Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds injured and jailed by the regime forces since the uprising broke out.