Saudi forces braced for protests

Hundreds of police have deployed in the Saudi capital ahead of planned protests calling for democratic reforms.

The government is trying to prevent the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world from spreading in the oil-rich kingdom.

Police blocked roads and set up random checkpoints in Riyadh, searching residents around a central mosque as large numbers of people gathering for Friday prayers raised the prospect of them later spilling into the streets for mass demonstrations.

On Thursday, rare violence broke out at another protest in the country’s east when Saudi police opened fire to disperse demonstrators in the city of Qatif, where minority Shiites live. At least three protesters and one police officer were wounded.

Although protests have so far been confined to small rallies in the east, activists have been emboldened by other uprisings in the region.

The Saudi activists have set up online groups calling for protests in Riyadh today.

Any violence could reverberate through the world’s markets because of the importance of Saudi oil exports.

Tension is common between authorities and the country’s Shiites, who make up 10% of the kingdom’s 23 million citizens. The Shiites have long complained of discrimination.

The pro-Western monarchy is concerned protests could open footholds for Shiite powerhouse Iran and has accused foreigners of stoking the protests, which are officially forbidden.