Reacting to the Statement by Hezbollah Leader; Bahrain Suspended Gulf Air Flights to Lebanon

BERUIT – In protest to the statements of Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah; all flights of state-owned Gulf Air have reportedly been suspended on Wednesday by Bahrain government. 

Earlier this month, the flights to Iran and Iraq had been suspended for the same reason. Government authorities have advised their citizens not to travel to Lebanon. 

An official source at Beirut's international airport informed media that they were just informed that Gulf Air would suspend all flights to Lebanon with effect from March 23, without citing the reason.

Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, addressing at a rally in Beirut Saturday, referred to events in Bahrain as a 'special injustice'. He further added that Arab and Islamic worlds are silent on the brutal handling of issue because the protesters are Shiites.

Bahrain has already accused Iran, Hezbollah's main supporter, of being behind the unrest in the country.

Bahrain Updates: Manama's Pearl Square Protesters Attacked by Riot Police

MANAMA – According to media report, Bahraini riot police initiated an assault Wednesday against anti-regime protesters camped out in the capital's Pearl Square.

Reportedly, hundreds of protesters had spent a stressed night in the Pearl Square, due to the fear of another police assault on their camp like the one on February 17, in the early days of the revolution, which left four people dead.

Police appeared in tanks, troop transport vehicles and buses before moving in and firing tear gas grenades on the mainly Shi’ite Muslim demonstrators. Top clerics of the sect had already predicted such kind of ‘horrible massacre’ yesterday after Bahraini military vowed to “crack down on lawbreakers,” followed by the imposition of martial law in the country by Bahrain’s King.

Like Tahrir Square in Egypt; Pearl Square has turned out to be centre of the anti-regime movement pressing the country's Sunni rulers for political reforms.

Martial Law Imposed by Bahrain’s king, Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa

MANAMA - Bahrain’s king, Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa, on Tuesday declared a state of martial law in country as sectarian strife worsens and protesters are demanding his ouster.

King Hamed’s declaration was straight away followed up by a statement by the Bahraini military saying that they aim to “crack down on lawbreakers,” clearly implying that they would move against the protesters, predominantly Shi’ite Muslims, who have occupied areas of the capital, Manama, and all but paralyzed the country.

The protests continued today, however, with upward of 10,000 Bahrainis in the streets of Manama converging on the Saudi Embassy to condemn what they called an “occupation” of their nation.

At Least 1,000 Protesters Spent Weekend in Tents at Pearl Square, Manama

MANAMA - At least 1,000 protesters spent their weekend in a tent camp set up in the heart of capital city of Bahrain. Reportedly, after regaining the hold of streets and Pearl Square in Manama demonstrators set up a temporary camp there and almost 1,000 of them spent the weekend in this tent camp. Food stands and media centres also cropped up in the area.

Last Thursday Bahrain government used a severe force in dealing with protesters, sending in military to attack the protesters’ encampment at Pearl Square. Several deaths were reported as a result, but the protesters have once again taken the control of streets and the situation is fairly peaceful.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, commenting on the situation in Bahrain, said in an interview with ABC's “This Week” that the United States backs the call for reform and would like to see the kingdom get back on that track as soon as possible.

The Bahrain Uprising Led Mainly by Shiite Muslims Can Threat King Abdullah Regime in Saudi Arabia

MANAMA - According to some analysts, the bow down of Bahrain government in front of anti-government forces, mainly comprises of Shiite Muslim of the state, is an alarm to their co-religionists in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, happened to be the world’s biggest oil exporter.   

 

Bahrain  is a close Saudi partner being powered by the Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa family, has been struck by political turbulence since February 14 that has ultimately led to demands for the government’s discharge and the formation of a legitimate kingdom.

Although Shiite are in minority in Saudi Arabia mainly concentrated in eastern part of the country which is an oil-producing hub for Saudi Arabia, having 1/5^th of the world’s oil.

In an interview with BBC Arabic TV; Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz (a member of the Saudi royal family) had already alarmed the Saudi Government of possible anti-regime protests if King Abdullah will not set up more political participation and human rights.

Political Revolution Waves in Middle East: Dozens Killed in Libya While Talks Begin in Bahrain

TRIPOLI - Security forces of Libya allegedly killed dozens of protesters by gun fires as they were struggling to establish anti-Gaddafi demonstration in the second biggest city Benghazi; while in the mean time Bahrain's rulers started negotiations with the opposition as turbulence persisted to sweep the Middle East.

  Anti-regime protesters in Bahrain crowded into Pearl Square in Manama on Saturday, defying riot police for their cause and set up camp for a extended stay.

The Libyan government restricted foreign media operating into the country since the uprising against Gaddafi regime exploded, and the witness' account could not be independently verified.

As yesterday reported ere; Human Rights Watch reports 84 people have been killed in Libya since the start of the protests. The rising death toll is a clear depiction the severity with which Libyan government has been trying to suppress the demonstrators.

Political revolt has started from Tunisia and made its way to Egypt later on, after the victory of anti regime forces there the revolution shock waves reached to Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait and Djibouti as people came out in to the streets demanding political and economic change.

Anti-regime forces faced fierce government reactions in Yemen, Algiers and Djibouti, while an Egyptian court approved a new party in a historical ruling. Authorities in Saudi Arabian Authorities arrested activists trying to set up the kingdom's first political party.

At Least 50 Wounded as a Result of Open Fire on Demonstrators on Friday: Obama Administration Condemned The Act

MANAMA - At least 50 protesters wounded in Bahrain when security forces open fire on the protesters on Friday. Thousands of people marched to gather in Pearl Square defying the use of force by the government in a revolution that wanted to shatter the political grip of the Gulf nation's leaders.

Once again, Bahrain security authorities hinted no signs of mercy in using force against demonstrators who rose up with the demands to bring down the whole ruling kingdom.

Obama administration criticized the use of aggression against the protesters in Bahrain as well as in Libya and Yemen, where heavy crackdowns by old-guard regimes were reported. 

In Bahrain on Friday, crucially injured protesters were taken to Manama's main Salmaniya hospital, which also received the dead and wounded after riot police smashed a protest encampment early Thursday in the landmark Pearl Square.

'Day of Anger' in Libya Costs 10 Lives: UK and US Opposed The Use of Power Against Demonstrators

BENGHAZI - In progressing political rousing through the Middle East, anti-government protesters have came out to the streets of different Libyan cities for a demostration they are unfolding as a "day of anger".

Protests are still under way in Libya's second largest city of Benghazi.

According to different hospital sources; ten bodies have been brought to a hospital after clashes between the activists and the police.

In the meantime; Bahrain demonstrations have been banned and the security forces have tautened its hold after the aggressive elimination of demonstrators in the capital, Manama, on Thursday.

Deep concerns have been shown by the governments of U.S. and U.K. Hillary Clinton, U.S Secretary of State, said that she has talked to her corresponding person in Bahrain to convey the concerns on behalf of Obama administration.

Jay Carney, White House spokesman, also reiterated that the US administration opposed the use of power against the demonstrators.

The Fall of Mubarak Regime in Egypt Revitalizes Anti-regime Forces in Arab and Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran - After the collapse of 30-year Mubarak regime in Egypt; pro-democracy forces in different countries of Arab and Middle East feeling their significance even though suppressed for the decades.

In Sanaa, the capital city of Yemen. anti-government protesters staged a demonstration on Saturday which was not quite significant in terms of numbers; but no one can say when this flare will turn into an uncontrolled jungle fire, when the voice of few thousand, "After Mubarak, it's Ali's turn", will become the nation’s demand.   

Then comes Algeria where on Saturday hundred of pro-democracy activists were detained by police for staging an anti-government demonstration, in Capital city of Algiers, despite of ban from the Algerian government. The government, following the footsteps of Mubarak, disconnect internet services in the country and deployed heavy number of police to nullify the effects of demonstrations.

The next week will start with the demonstrations in Bahrain and Iran. The opposition in Iran have already called their supporters on the internet. Reportedly, the call had been responded positively by numbers. 

The opposition revitalized its supporters for gathering in central Tehran on Monday; the statement was released on Kaleme.com on Sunday. Further in the statement; the duplicate behaviour of the Iranian government was criticized for verbal support to the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions while denying Iranian political protesters to stage a peaceful demonstration.