What they are now calling "Bloody Friday" began yesterday as a Holy Day (Friday is the main day of worship in Islam) filled with mourning. The funerals for those who died the day before would be held, accompanied by more protests that would ultimately end violently.
Not just moments after two of my teammates left Salmaniya Hospital (to see what needs they have we can help fill), the military (not the police) opened fire on the mourners and protesters at the Pearl, and this time with more than rubber bullets, but live ammo.
From Al Jazeera English:
A doctor at Salmaniya hospital told Al Jazeera that the hospital is full of severely injured people after the latest shootings.
"We need help! Our staff is entirely overwhelmed. They are shooting at people's heads. Not at the legs. People are having their brains blown out," a distraught Dr Ghassan said, describing the chaos at the hospital as something close to a war zone.
As of 2pm today, this is what Al Jazeera reports on their live blog:
Hopefully, the talks rumored to take place actually will.
Not just moments after two of my teammates left Salmaniya Hospital (to see what needs they have we can help fill), the military (not the police) opened fire on the mourners and protesters at the Pearl, and this time with more than rubber bullets, but live ammo.
From Al Jazeera English:
A doctor at Salmaniya hospital told Al Jazeera that the hospital is full of severely injured people after the latest shootings.
"We need help! Our staff is entirely overwhelmed. They are shooting at people's heads. Not at the legs. People are having their brains blown out," a distraught Dr Ghassan said, describing the chaos at the hospital as something close to a war zone.
He said the hospital was running short of blood and appealed for help to get more supplies. Police had no immediate comment.
As of 2pm today, this is what Al Jazeera reports on their live blog:
February 19, 2011
1:09pm Our correspondent in Manama reports that there appear to be plans for marches to begin in three separate locations in about two hours time (at 3:00pm local time), with all of them destined for Pearl roundabout. Given the security presence there, he says it is unlikely that they will reach their destination. The real question is whether or not the military and police will use the same level of force (i.e. lethal) as they did on Friday.
1:15pm Our correspondent also reported that there currently appear to be no indications that the government is prepared to soften its stance in any way in order to promote dialogue with the opposition. Protesters and the opposition have said that there can be no dialogue as long as the military remains deployed and the government does not allow protests.
1:22pm A witness has told Reuters that the Bahraini army has "completed [its] withdrawal" from Manama's Pearl roundabout.
1:38pm Police have used tear gas against protesters attempting to return to Pearl roundabout.
1:47pm The Crown Prince has ordered all troops to leave the streets, and says that police will enforce order, according to the Bahrain News Agency.
Hopefully, the talks rumored to take place actually will.
Thank you for your excellent consistency in keeping this up.
ReplyDeleteYes, please keep posting!
ReplyDelete