Thousands of peaceful protesters were camped in Manama’s Pearl Square when police in riot gear have unleashed a violent attack. Opposition calls for constitutional reform, jobs and the resignation of prime minister, in power since 1971.

Manama (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Three dead, dozens injured, probably over a hundred, some serious, is the toll from an attack unleashed without warning by the police on thousands of peaceful protesters who are camping in the streets of the Pearl Square. The protest started Monday with what was called the "day of rage" to ask for political, economic and constitutional reform.

The square was full of sleeping people - men, women and children - when hundreds of police in riot gear stormed, firing tear gas and throwing percussion grenades. Meanwhile, dozens of plainclothes police, guns in hand, mingled with protesters who tried to flee in all directions. In what one witness described as "a fog of war" there were clashes with the police, who used sticks and batons on unprepared people. The injured, some with symptoms of suffocation due to tear gas, were taken to a nearby hospital.

Bahrain's Shiite opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, said that the assault by security forces against demonstrators in Manama, will have "catastrophic" consequences."The attack was a wrong decision, which will have catastrophic repercussions on the stability of Bahrain," said the head of the al-Wefaq political movement. The opposition protesters demand the release of all political detainees, greater supply of jobs and housing and the replacement of Prime Minister Sheik Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Just like in Cairo, Tahrir Square, the protesters have decided not to leave Pearl square until their demands are met. (16/02/2011 Protests continue in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran. Clashes over freedom and reform).

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