The Bahrain Protests

 

The Bahrain Protests

01. A protester crosses her fingers painted in the colours of Bahrain's national flag during a protest, in support of the anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain, in front of the U.N. headquarters in Beirut, February 18, 2011. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The protests are spreading like wildfire. First it was Tunisia, then Egypt and now protests are being held in Morocco, Libya, Yemen, Iran and Bahrain. Not a lot of news is coming out of Iran and Libya as they either shut down the internet or limited its use, but we can report on the protests in Bahrain. The oil rich state has taken to the use of heavy force to try and remove the protesters from the streets. This has resulted in death and injury, but the protesters won't budge. The latest news is that the police has retreated from the main square on which the protesters have been gathering. We wish them well.
Warning: Some images depict death and injury.

02. Women pray for protesters who were injured after riot police stormed an anti-government protest camp, outside the Salmaniya hospital where the casualties were sent to, in Manama February 17, 2011. Troops took control of Manama on Thursday after riot police stormed the anti-government protest camp at dawn and fought demonstrators on the streets, killing four people in Bahrain's worst violence in decades. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

03. The body of a protester, who was killed by riot police, is taken for burial as his family members and supporters follow a march in Sitra, east of the Bahraini capital of Manama, February 18, 2011. Thousands of Shi'ites in Bahrain turned out to bury their dead on Friday and funerals were expected in two Libyan towns as both countries mourned victims of government crackdowns on protesters.
REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

04. A man treats an anti-government protester injured during a demonstration in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz February 18, 2011. At least two people were killed in Yemen on Friday when clashes broke out between police and protesters, witnesses said, and thousands turned out in Bahrain and Libya to mourn protesters killed in government crackdowns. REUTERS/Stringer

05. A protester runs for shelter after Bahraini security forces opened fire at protesters marching towards the Pearl Square in capital Manama February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces shot at protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and wounded at least 23, a former Shi'ite lawmaker said, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp from the traffic circle in Manama. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

06. Nurses sit on gurneys as they wait for injured people at the Suleimanieh Central hospital in Manama February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces shot at protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and wounded at least 23, a former Shi'ite lawmaker said, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp from the traffic circle in Manama. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

07. A protester crosses her fingers painted in the colours of Bahrain's national flag during a protest, in support of the anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain, in front of the U.N. headquarters in Beirut, February 18, 2011. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

08. Family members and friends of a protester, who was killed by riot-police, pray at his grave after burying him in Sitra, East of Bahriani capital of Manama, February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces fired on protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and a senior medical official said more than 60 people were treated in hospital, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp in the capital. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

09. A family member of a protester, who was killed by riot-police, is consoled by his friend as he cries during a funeral procession in Sitra, East of Bahriani capital of Manama, February 18, 2011. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

10.The body of a protester, who was killed by riot-police, is washed prior to his funeral in Sitra, east of Bahraini capital of Manama, February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces fired on protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and a senior medical official said more than 60 people were treated in hospital, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp in the capital. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

11. Thousands of protesters with Bahraini flags take part in a pro-government march in the capital Manama February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces fired on protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and a senior medical official said more than 60 people were treated in hospital, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp in the capital. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

12. Still image taken from a video footage shows wounded protesters lying on the pavement screaming for help during an anti-government protest in Manama February 18, 2011. Bahraini security forces fired on protesters near Pearl Square on Friday and a senior medical official said more than 60 people were treated in hospital, a day after police forcibly cleared a protest camp in the capital. REUTERS/Youtube via Reuters TV

13. An armoured vehicle moves along King Fahad Highway after leaving Pearl Roundabout in Manama February 19, 2011. Bahraini troops and armoured vehicles on Saturday left a Manama square that had been a base for anti-government protesters, hours after opposition groups rejected a royal dialogue call unless the military stood down. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

14. Protesters pray as they enter Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Bahraini riot police retreated from Pearl Square on Saturday and thousands of anti-government protesters streamed back into their former stronghold in Manama. Crowds had approached Pearl Square from different directions. They stood facing riot police for half an hour. All of a sudden police ran to their buses and retreated. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

15. A female protester touches blood stains on the grass of the Pearl Square in Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Bahraini riot police retreated from Pearl Square on Saturday and thousands of anti-government protesters streamed back into their former stronghold in Manama. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

16. Anti government protestors march into Pearl roundabout after the military and police left in Manama February 19, 2011. Bahraini riot police retreated from Pearl Square on Saturday and thousands of anti-government protesters streamed back into their former stronghold in Manama. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

17. Anti-government protesters celebrate retaking Pearl Square after the army and police left, in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

18. A protester takes cover around a corner as Bahrain's security forces fire tear gas on demonstrators marching from Salmaniya Hospital to Pearl Square, in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into a symbolic square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

19. Anti-government demonstrators flee from tear gas fired by Bahrain security forces as they marched from Salmaniya Hospital to Pearl Square, in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

20. A tear gas canister is seen on the ground after anti-government protesters pushed through security forces to retake Pearl Sqaure in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

21. Shoes left behind by those who fled lie in the street after Bahrain's security forces fired tear gas at anti-government demonstrators as they marched from Salmaniya Hospital to Pearl Square in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

22. A jubilant protester splashes in Pearl Square's fountain after peacefully taking back the traffic circle from Bahrain's security forces, in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

23. Female protesters gather at Pearl Square, after riot police opened all roads leading to the venue, in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

24. An anti-government protester directs traffic on a bridge overlooking Pearl Square in Manama February 19, 2011. Protesters in Bahrain won a symbolic victory on Saturday, Libyan security forces opened fire to disperse mourners and a new party was approved in Egypt as the uprisings sweeping the Arab world challenged its rulers. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

25. A protester performs ablutions before carrying out the night prayer at Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause and confidently setting up camp for a protracted stay. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

26. An anti-government protester wrapped in a Bahraini flag watches from a bridge the crowd gathered in Pearl Square in Manama February 19, 2011. Protesters in Bahrain won a symbolic victory on Saturday, Libyan security forces opened fire to disperse mourners and a new party was approved in Egypt as the uprisings sweeping the Arab world challenged its rulers. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

27. Protesters light candles and sit at a spot where a fellow protester was killed during riots, at Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause and confidently setting up camp for a protracted stay. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

28. Protesters light candles and sit at a spot where a fellow protester was killed during riots, at Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause and confidently setting up camp for a protracted stay. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

29. A protester shows U.S.-made non-lethal weaponry used by the government against protesters at Salmaniya Hospital in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause and confidently setting up camp for a protracted stay. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

30. Protesters look at canisters of non-lethal weaponry used by the government against protesters at Salmaniya Hospital in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into the symbolic Pearl Square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause and confidently setting up camp for a protracted stay. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

31. Protesters sit around flowers placed at a venue where a fellow protester was shot dead by police a few metres from Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Bahrain's government said on Saturday that it had opened a dialogue with opposition groups demanding reform. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

32. Protesters serve a traditional meal of rice and chicken to fellow protesters at Pearl Square in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Bahrain's government said on Saturday that it had opened a dialogue with opposition groups demanding reform. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

33. Protesters walk at Pearl Square after riot police opened access to the venue in the Bahraini capital of Manama February 19, 2011. Bahrain's government said on Saturday that it had opened a dialogue with opposition groups demanding reform. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed