Bahrain troops open fire on demonstrators

[denem]

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Manama, Bahrain — Bahraini army troops on Friday opened fire on demonstrators marching toward a central square that has become a symbol of resistance to the government, attacking the crowd with live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas, witnesses reported.

At least 50 people were wounded, according to two doctors at Salmaniya Medical Center in Manama.

Wounded survivors of the clash said they had been participating in a peaceful march from a village in mourning for the victim of a fatal shooting on Monday. They marched from the village of Daih into Manama and planned to cross the side of Pearl Square, where protesters were swept out in a brutal attack early Thursday.

Gunfire erupted when the protesters reached the square; it was sporadic at first, then more sustained. Security forces fired into the surrounding streets leading into the traffic roundabout.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bahrain-protest-shootings-20110219,0,1639581.story

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""Everybody was on the ground. They were shooting at the heads and chest," said a shaken Mohamed Nabi, 27,... "We were chanting, 'peaceful, peaceful,' "

More reports are coming in on Al Jazeera. A doctor described a hundred bodies dumped at the side of the road near the hospital. Security police are preventing medical staff from attending to them. Observers said Soldiers, Police and a helicopter opened fire with automatic weapons.

[TBF]

1. Dislike. Solidarity with the people of Bahrain. K&R nt

[formercia]

2. Most of the protesters are Shia

while most of the government is Sunni.

It's going to get worse.

[JCMach1]

3. Clusterfrak with the 5th fleet in the middle of it...

[Kolesar]

4. No kidding...eom

[Arctic Dave]

5. I believe Iran couldn't be happier.

Some govs are too stupid for their own good.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended for democracy in Bahrain.

Thanks for the thread, denem.

[Catherina]

7. 1 more picture (bloody man) and policeman joining protesters in solidarity

But in a better picture 46 seconds ago



emoodz Mohammed AlMaskati
A policeman, joining protesters in solidarity http://bit.ly/f7JBtF #bahrain #feb14
46 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. Bahrain royal family orders army to turn on the people

Source: the Telegraph

Bahrain's ruling family has defied mounting international criticism by ordering the army to turn on its people for the first time since pro-reform demonstrations erupted five days ago.

As protesters attempted to converge on Pearl Roundabout, a landmark in the capital Manama that has become the principal rallying point of the uprising, soldiers stationed in a nearby skyscraper opened fire.

Since they took to the streets, Bahrain's protesters have come to expect violence and even death at the hands of the kingdom's security forces. At least five people were killed before yesterday's protests.

But this was on a different scale of magnitude.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/8334771/Bahrain-royal-family-orders-army-to-turn-on-the-people.html

[DeSwiss]

9. K&R n/t

[Catherina]

10. Friends of ours according to our Secretary of State. Beg your pardon, ma'am

friends of yours maybe but certainly not of mine.

[Turborama]

11. AC360 just did an excellent segment on this. I'll post the video here when it goes online.

CNN International's Arwa Damon was there at the time. Here's her Twitter account: http://twitter.com/#!/arwaCNN