Bahraini forces lay siege to village

Bahraini regime forces lay siege to Bani Jamra village, west of the capital Manama, amid the continuing crackdown on anti-regime protests in the county, Press TV reports.  

The village was placed under siege by police forces on Saturday following anti-regime protests in the region.

Tear gas and gunshots were heard in the village all through the night. Regime forces also set up military blockades across the region as helicopters hovered above, to prevent any movements in the area.

Large numbers of Saudi-backed forces have also been deployed to the village to assist in the crackdown. Bahrain™s main opposition party, the Al-Wefaq has condemned the siege and called for its end.

On Friday, thousands of Bahraini demonstrators took to the streets across Bahrain to protest against the torture of pro-democracy activists arrested by the Al Khalifa regime.

The protesters waved Bahrain’s national flag and held up signs that read “Manama, capital of torture” during a demonstration in the village of Daih.

An anti-government demonstration was staged in the village of Jidhafs, west of Manama, where the participants held up anti-regime placards and waved the national flag. Bahraini forces also used force to disperse anti-regime protestors in Jidhafs.

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011, when the people, inspired by the popular revolutions that toppled the dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, started holding massive demonstrations.

The Bahraini government promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states.

Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses accused of treating injured revolutionaries.

A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters.

Bahrainis say they will continue holding demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met.

DB/HN

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/11/302889/bahraini-forces-lay-siege-to-village/