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March 17, 2011

Deaths, Arrests in Bahraini Protest Crackdown 
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The Bahraini government has arrested a number of opposition activists
and political figures following a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy
protests nationwide. On Wednesday, at least six people were killed and
more than 1,000 wounded after state forces attacked demonstrators in the
capital Manama. The crackdown spread throughout the country as Bahraini
authorities imposed a 12-hour curfew and clamped down on travel.
Witnesses reported helicopters firing on Shiite homes and doctors being
attacked while treating the wounded. Government forces reportedly took
over Bahrain's largest hospital and prevented doctors from treating the
wounded. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have deployed
hundreds of troops into Bahrain to protect the regime, a key U.S.
government ally in the Middle East. On Wednesday, President Obama urged
both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to exercise quote "maximum restraint," but
refused to condemn the assault on protesters.



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