Stun guns, tear gas, and rubber bullets--those are the Valentine's Day presents Bahraini police are giving protesters who are looking to march on the anniversary of last year's pro-democracy uprisings. Activists have urged thousands and many are expected to march on the now-crumbled Pearl Roundabout in Bahrain's capital city of Manama--the epicenter of last year's protests. Bahraini police don't want to see that happen.
"Police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters on Monday evening and protesters hurled firebombs and rocks at security forces," reports the AP. The BBC confirms the tear gas and stun gun firings, along with police firing rubber bullets in the outskirts of Manama. The BBC also adds that riot police have been deployed throughout the country in anticipation for demonstrations, noting that on Monday evening "demonstrators advanced about 2km (1.5 miles) towards Pearl Roundabout before they were pushed back by riot police."
On Twitter, there are reports of highways being blocked and traffic being diverted away from Manama, as well as concern over the type of force police are using. The BBC reports that at least 60 people have been killed since the uprising last year. "Because your cause is justice and you will get at the end what you want." Khalil al-Marzuq, a politician affiliated with the largest opposition party in the kingdom, told the BBC. "This is a non-violent movement and should continue to be [a] non-violent movement."
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Alexander Abad-Santos
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