MANAMA – Armoured vehicles patrolled Bahrain’s capital yesterday in a security clampdown to deter protesters after overnight clashes outside Manama on the first anniversary of the suppressed pro-democracy uprising.
Youths flung petrol bombs at police cars during skirmishes before dawn, prompting authorities to flood local Shia villages around Manama with police reinforcements backed by helicopters. Police fired tear gas at two dozen protesters near the former Pearl Roundabout, focal point of last year’s protests, almost hitting several people as canisters bounced off cars.– (Reuters)