MANAMA, Bahrain—Bahrain arrested several opposition leaders and activists in dawn raids on their homes Thursday, as the government continued its attempt to stifle the recent uprising on the strategic Gulf island.
Among those arrested were Hassan Mushaima, leader of the hardline Haq movement, who returned from exile in London last month under a government amnesty, and Abdul AlSingace, a senior member of the Haq movement, according to Abdul Khalil, a senior member of Al Wefaq, the largest opposition group. The Haq leaders had been calling for the overthrow of the Bahraini monarchy.
The situation is going down and down," said Mr. Khalil. "Everybody is [worried about their safety]," he said.
Security forces backed by the army drove protesters out of the center of Manama Wednesday in an effort to crush a growing protest movement. Thousands of mainly Shiite protesters had taken over large areas of the capital's financial district during the uprising.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa this week declared a three-month state of emergency and a 12-hour curfew has been imposed in parts of the capital. Tension also increased with the arrival on Monday of 1,000 troops from Saudi Arabia and 500 police from the United Arab Emirates, despite warnings from the U.S. that such a move could worsen the situation. The presence of the troops has heightened fears of a sectarian conflict and of possible involvement by Iran, Saudi Arabia's main rival for regional influence. Other opposition figures arrested Thursday included Shiite activist Abdul Wahab Hussein, who was one of the 308 prisoners pardoned by the government last month in a move designed to assuage protester demands, and Ebrahim Sharif, the leader of the moderate Sunni group the National Democratic Action Society, according to Mr. Khalil.
A spokesman for Bahrain's government declined to comment, saying a statement would be released later.
الرئيسية 
موضوع: Bahrain Arrests Opposition Leaders 
الخميس مارس 17, 2011 4:32 am
