Police disperse protesters in Bahrain with tear gas

Feb 13, 2012, 19:12 GMT

Cairo - Bahraini police dispersed protesters with tear gas Monday, on the first anniversary of the Shiite-led uprising in the country, Arab media reported.

Officers managed to disperse thousands of protesters who tried to march towards to Pearl Square, a flashpoint of last year's protests against the kingdom's Sunni Muslim rulers, Dubai based Al-Arabiya television said.

Bahraini state television said the demonstration had been authorized, but when the protesters started hurling petrol bombs at security personnel, the police intervened and dispersed the crowd.

The Coalition of the Youth of February 14th Revolution have been calling on their followers to mark the first anniversary of the uprising - which began on February 13, 2011 - that was quelled by the Bahraini forces.

The official state Bahraini News Agency (BNA) quoted public security chief Major General Tarik al-Hassan as warning Bahrainis 'not to respond to the calls on social networks to protest.'

'The security forces will stop anyone who takes advantage to carry out unlawful acts,' al-Hassan said.

Amnesty International called Monday on the Bahraini authorities 'to allow peaceful demonstrations' marking the anniversary.

Some 35 people, including five security personnel, were killed last year when government forces crushed the Shiite-uprising.