The 14 Words

Friday, 18 February 2011

Middle East in turmoil as demonstrators take to the streets

Bahrain has become the latest hot spot among the Middle East protests of 2011 but Friday prayers across the region could yet see renewed clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Jordan: Clashes erupt between government supporters and opponents in capital Amman, leaving eight injured
Yemen: Eight injured by hand grenade as tens of thousands gather in Taiz, clashes in two other cities
Libya: Revolutionary Committees warn of "swift and violent" response to anti-government protests
Egypt: Influential Sunni cleric Youssef el-Qaradawi calls for new government and release of all political prisoners
Bahrain: Tens of thousands gather for funerals of those killed by security officers on Thursday

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12.46 Now violence has erupted in Jordan, where eight people were injured in clashes between pro- and anti- government protesters at a demonstration calling for more freedoms and lower food prices.

On the seventh straight day of protests about 2,000 anti-establishment demonstrators calling for reduced powers for the king and the chance to elect cabinet members were trailed by about 200 government supporters chanting: "Our blood and souls, we sacrifice for you Abu Hussein" in honour of King Abdullah II.

Tareq Kmeil, a student at the protest, told the Associated Press: "They beat us with batons, pipes and hurled rocks at us. We tried to defend ourself, to beat them back.
"Police didn't do anything to protect us. Police forces just stood on the side watching us getting beaten."

12.39 Medical sources in Libya's second city, Benghazi, have told the Agence France Presse agency that fourteen people died in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters on Thursday.

A further 16 were killed in Al-Baida, according to Human RIghts Watch.

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