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| Bahrain government bans protests amid violence | Bahrain government bans protests amid violence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bahrain has banned all protests and gatherings amid clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators. | Bahrain has banned all protests and gatherings amid clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators. |
| Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech and expression could no longer be accepted. | Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech and expression could no longer be accepted. |
| Protests would be permitted only once security and stability were sufficient to maintain national unity, he added. | Protests would be permitted only once security and stability were sufficient to maintain national unity, he added. |
| Demonstrations were last banned during the three-month state of emergency King Hamad declared in March 2011. | Demonstrations were last banned during the three-month state of emergency King Hamad declared in March 2011. |
| The previous month protesters had occupied a prominent landmark in Manama, the now-demolished Pearl Roundabout, demanding more democracy and an end to what they said was discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. | The previous month protesters had occupied a prominent landmark in Manama, the now-demolished Pearl Roundabout, demanding more democracy and an end to what they said was discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. |
| At least 35 people, including five police officers, were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands jailed in February and March 2011. | At least 35 people, including five police officers, were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands jailed in February and March 2011. |
| Since then, opposition and human rights activists say another 45 other people have been killed, a figure which the government disputes. | Since then, opposition and human rights activists say another 45 other people have been killed, a figure which the government disputes. |
| In the past two weeks, two policemen have died of injuries sustained during clashes with protesters in villages outside Manama. | In the past two weeks, two policemen have died of injuries sustained during clashes with protesters in villages outside Manama. |
| Officials said the first was on patrol when a bomb exploded on 18 October; the second suffered burns after being hit by a Molotov cocktail in April. The authorities consider both incidents to be "terrorist" attacks. | Officials said the first was on patrol when a bomb exploded on 18 October; the second suffered burns after being hit by a Molotov cocktail in April. The authorities consider both incidents to be "terrorist" attacks. |