MANAMA, 27 March 2004 — Nine people were slightly injured in clashes between protesters and Bahraini riot police protecting the US Embassy compound in Manama during a protest against the assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin yesterday afternoon. Seven of the injured were taken to hospital with respiratory problems after riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the protesters, who hurled rocks at the embassy. No policemen were reported injured. Close to 500 people had marched to the compound and organized a sit-in where they were addressed by a leading clergyman. Leading clerics tried to stop the protest before it got on the way, but the protesters —mainly youth aged 13 to 19 — decided to go ahead. The demonstration turned violent when protesters threw rocks at the embassy and set fire to bushes and makeshift barricades made from tires and refuse. They also exploded at least one gas cylinder and reportedly damaged a police car. This was the second protest to turn violent near the US Embassy compound in the last two days after a policeman was slightly injured when police and about 400 secondary school students clashed on Wednesday.
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