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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bahrain policeman dies after protest anniversary bombing | Bahrain policeman dies after protest anniversary bombing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A policeman in Bahrain has died of wounds from a bomb blast during protests marking Friday's third anniversary of the country's uprising. | A policeman in Bahrain has died of wounds from a bomb blast during protests marking Friday's third anniversary of the country's uprising. |
| The interior ministry said he was one of two officers wounded in a "terror blast" in the village of Dair. | The interior ministry said he was one of two officers wounded in a "terror blast" in the village of Dair. |
| Another three policemen were injured by an explosion near the village of Dih. | Another three policemen were injured by an explosion near the village of Dih. |
| Protesters were marking the 2011 unrest fuelled by demands for more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia community. | Protesters were marking the 2011 unrest fuelled by demands for more rights and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia community. |
| On Friday demonstrators attempted to reach the site of a bloody crackdown on demonstrators almost three years ago. | On Friday demonstrators attempted to reach the site of a bloody crackdown on demonstrators almost three years ago. |
| Several demonstrators were reportedly wounded by security forces. The interior ministry said in a statement that 26 people were arrested on suspicion of "rioting and vandalism". | |
| Police used tear gas to stop them from reaching the Pearl Roundabout, which was a focus of protests in 2011. | Police used tear gas to stop them from reaching the Pearl Roundabout, which was a focus of protests in 2011. |
| Since then, police and demonstrators have scuffled almost daily. Thousands of people have been arrested. | Since then, police and demonstrators have scuffled almost daily. Thousands of people have been arrested. |
| Repeated clashes | |
| The government and opposition have held two rounds of fruitless reconciliation talks, with a third expected soon. | The government and opposition have held two rounds of fruitless reconciliation talks, with a third expected soon. |
| The protesters are mostly from poorer, Shia areas in the villages outside the capital. | |
| Protesters have repeatedly used burning tyres and other debris as a tactic to block police vehicles from entering Shia areas. | |
| Sunni Muslims are a minority in the country but through the al-Khalifa dynasty have ruled over the Shia Muslim majority for more than 200 years. | |
| The small island country is a key US ally in the Gulf and hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. | |
| Bahrain is also closely allied with Saudi Arabia, which in 2011 sent troops into the country to help the government quell the uprising. |