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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An activist in Bahrain says riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands gathered near the square that was the epicenter of the nation's Shiite-led protests earlier this year.
Nabeel Rajab says protesters chanted: "Down, down Hamad" — a reference to the Bahraini monarch, and demanded that all detained protesters be released.
No injuries were immediately reported during the demonstration Thursday near Manama's Pearl Square.
The violence comes as Bahrain's Sunni rulers are trying to open reconciliation talks with the Shiite opposition, which demands political freedoms and greater rights.
The talks are to start on Saturday but Bahrain's biggest Shiite party, Al Wefaq, has not yet decided whether it will participate.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain on Thursday stopped bringing anti-government protesters to trial at a special tribunal with military prosecutors, a lawyer said, ending a practice criticized as unfair by rights activists and the Gulf kingdom's Western allies.
The tribunal was set up in March when Bahrain's Sunni rulers imposed martial law to help quash protests by Shiites demanding political freedoms and greater rights. The trials of dozens of opposition figures, human rights activists and Shiite professionals continued even after the emergency laws were lifted earlier this month.
A lawyer for a doctor who is among 47 health professionals on trial after they treated injured protesters said the proceedings have been moved to civilian courts. The medical staff are charged with participating in an effort to topple Bahrain's monarchy.
A hearing in the case of 20 doctors set for Thursday was canceled, the lawyer said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of jeopardizing clients in custody.
The decision to shift trials to civilian courts comes as Sunni rulers try to open reconciliation talks with the Shiite-led opposition. Washington has encouraged dialogue in the island nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, and had urged the monarchy to meet some of the opposition's demands.
Nabeel Rajab says protesters chanted: "Down, down Hamad" — a reference to the Bahraini monarch, and demanded that all detained protesters be released.
No injuries were immediately reported during the demonstration Thursday near Manama's Pearl Square.
The violence comes as Bahrain's Sunni rulers are trying to open reconciliation talks with the Shiite opposition, which demands political freedoms and greater rights.
The talks are to start on Saturday but Bahrain's biggest Shiite party, Al Wefaq, has not yet decided whether it will participate.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain on Thursday stopped bringing anti-government protesters to trial at a special tribunal with military prosecutors, a lawyer said, ending a practice criticized as unfair by rights activists and the Gulf kingdom's Western allies.
The tribunal was set up in March when Bahrain's Sunni rulers imposed martial law to help quash protests by Shiites demanding political freedoms and greater rights. The trials of dozens of opposition figures, human rights activists and Shiite professionals continued even after the emergency laws were lifted earlier this month.
A lawyer for a doctor who is among 47 health professionals on trial after they treated injured protesters said the proceedings have been moved to civilian courts. The medical staff are charged with participating in an effort to topple Bahrain's monarchy.
A hearing in the case of 20 doctors set for Thursday was canceled, the lawyer said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of jeopardizing clients in custody.
The decision to shift trials to civilian courts comes as Sunni rulers try to open reconciliation talks with the Shiite-led opposition. Washington has encouraged dialogue in the island nation, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, and had urged the monarchy to meet some of the opposition's demands.