Bahrain arrests 6 leading Shiite activists in attempt to halt street clashes with police
By APTuesday, August 17, 2010
Bahrain cracks down on Shiite activists
MANAMA, Bahrain — A Bahraini lawyer says security forces have detained six more opposition members in a crackdown on the Gulf kingdom’s majority Shiites who complain of being disenfranchised.
Lawyer Mohammed al-Tajir said Tuesday a total of 10 activists, including eight leading members of the opposition, have been detained since Saturday.
Al-Tajir said the detained have not been charged and their whereabouts are unknown.
Security officials said they are targeting opposition figures seeking to harm national stability. The crackdown follows a series of violent Shiite-led protests accusing the government of discrimination.
Shiites are a majority in Bahrain, but the island nation, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, is ruled by a Sunni royal family.
