Tear gas fired at Bahrain protesters

POLICE fired tear gas and water cannon yesterday at demonstrators protesting against Bahrain’s royal family in one of the most violent confrontations since troops killed seven protesters last month.

Bahrain’s crown prince offered the mainly Shi’ite opposition assurances that national dialogue would address their demands, hours after the protesters built barricades across the highway leading to Bahrain Financial Harbour.

“Investment in Bahrain is for everyone not just one person,” said Ali, a protester at the Financial Harbour which has become a symbol of what protesters say are royal excesses. “That’s why we have problems. It’s not about Sunnis and Shi’ites.”

One protester showed a red mark on his chest, which he said was from a gas canister shot directly at him. Others showed rubber bullets they said were fired by police.

Bahrain has been gripped by its worst unrest since the 1990s after protests last month, inspired by uprisings that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia.

The kingdom has seen weeks of rallies by its Shi’ite majority, which says it is discriminated against by the Sunni royal family. The unrest is being closely watched in Saudi Arabia, where Shi’ites make up 15% of the population.

The White House urged Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, to engage in dialogue.

Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa promised that any deal could be put to nationwide referendum.