This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-16710353
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bahrain police under attack after Shia cleric's call | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Violence has flared up in Bahrain in the wake of a leading Shia cleric's call on Friday to "crush" police. | Violence has flared up in Bahrain in the wake of a leading Shia cleric's call on Friday to "crush" police. |
| Several people were wounded as protesters attacked security forces in Shia villages outside the capital. | Several people were wounded as protesters attacked security forces in Shia villages outside the capital. |
| Protesters from the Shia majority have faced a crackdown in the past year, as the Sunni monarchy attempts to cope with their demands for reform. | Protesters from the Shia majority have faced a crackdown in the past year, as the Sunni monarchy attempts to cope with their demands for reform. |
| In his sermon Sheikh Isa Qassim said: "Whoever you see abusing a woman, crush him." | In his sermon Sheikh Isa Qassim said: "Whoever you see abusing a woman, crush him." |
| The sermon by the previously moderate cleric was taken as a call to arms by angry young Shia. | The sermon by the previously moderate cleric was taken as a call to arms by angry young Shia. |
| In a fiery harangue, a video of which has been seen by the BBC, Sheikh Qassim said: "Let us die for our honour." | In a fiery harangue, a video of which has been seen by the BBC, Sheikh Qassim said: "Let us die for our honour." |
| "How do those who do this to people expect the people to remain silent and not defend their rights and honour?" he asked. | "How do those who do this to people expect the people to remain silent and not defend their rights and honour?" he asked. |
| Police routed | Police routed |
| Video footage made available to the BBC show security forces being routed by Shia activists hurling stones and petrol bombs in the village of Sitra near the capital Manama over the weekend. | Video footage made available to the BBC show security forces being routed by Shia activists hurling stones and petrol bombs in the village of Sitra near the capital Manama over the weekend. |
| Sitra has been a focus of tension in the struggle between Shia protesters and the government of King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa. | Sitra has been a focus of tension in the struggle between Shia protesters and the government of King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa. |
| Two pictures from another Shia village, Diraz, show a security officer lying wounded on the pavement after being beaten by rioters on Tuesday. | Two pictures from another Shia village, Diraz, show a security officer lying wounded on the pavement after being beaten by rioters on Tuesday. |
| Others show protesters in balaclavas and white martyrdom robes in a stand-off with police in Budaiya, just outside Manama. | Others show protesters in balaclavas and white martyrdom robes in a stand-off with police in Budaiya, just outside Manama. |
| Anger was stoked at the funeral on Sunday of 24-year-old Yousif al-Mawal. Police say they found his body floating in the sea, a victim of drowning. | |
| But his family says he was arrested, tortured and then dumped. Photographs of his body seen by the BBC appear to show abrasions and bruises consistent with beating. | |
| Still, the level of violence has caught peaceful activists off guard. | |
| When shown the picture of the injured policeman, one said: "No one should come down to that level. It is not right what (the protesters) are doing." | When shown the picture of the injured policeman, one said: "No one should come down to that level. It is not right what (the protesters) are doing." |
| The pro-democracy activist said the violent response has been well organised. | The pro-democracy activist said the violent response has been well organised. |
| He said "thousands" of petrol bombs were being prepared by protesters for use against security forces. | He said "thousands" of petrol bombs were being prepared by protesters for use against security forces. |
| Sheikh Qassim's comments have been condemned by the government as irresponsible. | Sheikh Qassim's comments have been condemned by the government as irresponsible. |