'Four dead' as riot police storm Bahrain camp

By Hadeel al-Shalchi, AP

Thursday, 17 February 2011

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A wounded Shia Bahraini demonstrator is taken to a hospital in Manama

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Armed patrols prowled neighbourhoods and tanks appeared in the streets for the first time Thursday after riot police with tear gas and clubs drove protesters from a main square where they had demanded sweeping political change in this tiny kingdom. Medical officials said four people were killed.

Police cars with flashing blue lights encircled Pearl Square, the site of anti-government rallies since Monday. Barbed wire was set up on streets leading to the square, where police cleaned up flattened protest tents and trampled banners. The Interior Ministry declared the protest camp "illegal" and warned Bahrainis to stay off the streets.

Read the whole story on: independent.co.uk