Tear gas fired in Bahrain

BAHRAIN’S security forces fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in the Gulf kingdom after a prominent Shi’ite cleric vowed that their demands for the Sunni monarchy to loosen its grip on power will not be silenced by “brutal force”.

Bahrain’s government, meanwhile, brushed aside suggestions for an international investigation into the deaths of protesters during the month of unrest or allegations that police attacked wounded protesters at a hospital.