Many injured as police clash with peaceful Arab Spring Bahrain democracy protesters battle police | Democracy, elections, and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Policeman, protesters wounded in Bahrain clashes

DUBAI (AFP) – Bahraini security forces clashed with anti-regime protesters early Friday, leaving several people wounded including a policeman who was shot with a home-made gun, the interior ministry and witnesses said. Hundreds took part in protests that erupted late Thursday and lasted until the early hours of Friday across several Shiite villages after a call was issued by the opposition February 14 Coalition youth group, witnesses and activists said.

“We will remove you (King) Hamad,” was the banner slogan issued by the opposition group to rally protesters against the Sunni monarch, witnesses said. Police fired birdshots to disperse the protesters, witnesses said, while the interior ministry said on Twitter that “security forces confronted a terror group in Diraz” village near Manama during clashes that left a policeman wounded after he was shot with a home-made gun.

Activists said dozens more were wounded in the clashes, but no official toll was immediately available.