...

Clashes break out in Bahrain after funeral of 16-year-old

Arab World Materials 8 October 2011 01:34 (UTC +04:00)

Heavy clashes broke out between protesters and police Friday on the outskirts of the Bahraini capital Manama, shortly after the funeral march for a 16-year-old who was shot by police the previous day, DPA reported.

The clashes left several injured and led to some arrests after hundreds of mourners marched on the city's main Budiya Highway, confronting anti-riot police.

Thousands took part in the funeral march for Ahmed Jaber, who had sustained injuries from birdshot ammunition during a protest in the village of Abu Saiba late Thursday.

Initially, authorities said his death resulted from cardiac arrest, but shortly after they confirmed that he had been shot amid unrest.

Interior Ministry officials - who had said they only used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd in Abu Saiba - later said they were investigating the death, in light of a report attributing it to the use of birdshot rounds in shotguns.

Bahrain has been rocked by pro-reform protests since February. The authorities cracked down on the protesters amid growing international criticism from Western allies, the UN and human rights groups.

According to the opposition February 14 movement, more than 40 people have been killed during the unrest.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain, which is the home of the US Navy 5th Fleet, has accused Shiite-led Iran of meddling in the country's internal affairs. Bahraini opposition and Iran both reject the accusation.

Latest

Latest