Bahrain steps up crackdown

Bahrain: Bahrain is expanding the crackdown on the Opposition as security forces open fire on anti-Government protesters in the capital Manama and several other towns nearby. On Wednesday, Bahraini troops, backed by Saudi forces, attacked protesters in Diraz, Sanabis, Nuwaidrat and Belad al-Qadeem, UPI quoted witnesses as saying. Security forces have also managed to disperse the protesters in Manama. Witnesses say a 15-year-old boy was killed in the village of Saar.

Bahrain’s main Opposition bloc, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, said Tuesday that 250 people have been detained and 44 others gone missing since martial-type laws were introduced two weeks ago to contain the anti-Government protests in the Persian Gulf state.