Bahraini, shot by police 2 months ago, dies

A Bahraini man died from shotgun pellet wounds sustained during clashes with police almost two months ago, rights activists said. Rights campaigners said Abdul-Aziz al-Abbar, 27, was hit by a teargas canister and shotgun pellets fired by riot police at a funeral procession. It is not uncommon for police in Bahrain to attack funerals, Reuters reported. One pellet penetrated Abbar's brain and another his eye and he was in a coma in hospital until his death, his family said. "Al-Abbar has been martyred today (Friday), after police directly shot his head on February 23," said the main opposition al-Wefaq on its Twitter feed. Another group, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said, "Initial reports indicate that the shooting of Abbar was by police officers standing at close range. " Hassan, Abbar's cousin, said the death certificate said his cousin died from brain damage and blood flow problems, without specifying what caused this. "We have refused to receive the body until we get an (official) report that Abdul-Aziz died from shotgun pellets," he said.