17.02.2011, 11:16 4859

Bahrain protests escalates, 2 dead

Bahraini police used force to break up a protest camp in a central Manama square early on Thursday, killing at least two people, as they tried to end three days of demonstrations, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Almaty. February 17. Kazakhstan Today - Bahraini police used force to break up a protest camp in a central Manama square early on Thursday, killing at least two people, as they tried to end three days of demonstrations, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Security forces in Bahrain have dispersed thousands of anti-government protesters in Pearl Square in the centre of capital, Manama, BBC News reported.

Hundreds of riot police using tear gas and batons moved into the square before dawn on Thursday.

The protest had begun on Monday, when young organizers called for a "Day of Rage," modeled on the uprisings in Egypt or Tunisia. On that day, the police were unforgiving, refusing to allow demonstrators to gather, overwhelming them with tear gas and other rounds. One young man was killed, shot in the back by the police. A day later, another young man, a mourner, also was killed, shot in the back., The NewYork Times informed.

By 11 p.m. Wednesday, the square had started to fall quiet. Young men sat smoking water pipes, while young children slept on blankets or in tents. At 2:45 a.m. Thursday, the camp was quiet, those awake still reflecting on the remarkable events of the day that seemed to suggest the status quo might soon change. And then, the blue flashing lights of police vehicles began to appear, encircling the square. At first there were four vehicles, then dozens and then hundreds.

Wearing white crash helmets, the police rushed the square.

"They attacked our tents, beating us with batons," said Jafar Jafar, 17. "The police were lined up at the bridge overhead. They were shooting tear gas from the bridge," The Associated Press informed.

In a rare TV appearance on Tuesday, Bahrain's king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, expressed regret about the deaths of protesters and said he would continue reforms begun in 2002 when the emirate became a constitutional monarchy, BBC said.

The Bahraini demonstrators say they want:

" political prisoners to be released

" more jobs and housing

" the creation of a more representative and empowered parliament

" a new constitution written by the people

" a new cabinet that does not include Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, who has been in office for 40 years.

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