Police move on protesters in Bahrain, killing at least 3

By the CNN Wire Staff

February 17, 2011 4:35 a.m. EST

Manama, Bahrain (CNN) -- What had been days of mostly peaceful demonstrations changed dramatically in Bahrain early Thursday morning when police swarmed into the capital city and forcibly removed protesters from the Pearl Roundabout.
Police came in with dozens of vehicles, surrounded the roundabout and began firing "pellet bullets," rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators, witnesses said.
At least three people were killed early Thursday morning during the incident, emergency hospital services said.
Police were able to clear the roundabout of thousands of protesters and hours after that, convoys more than 50 military armored personnel carriers each armed with machine guns drove into the area. Convoys included trucks carrying razor wire.

Gallery: Bahrain protests

Democracy: 'There are no guarantees'

The role of social media in revolutions

Gallery: Nations facing unrest

Authorities pushed protesters out of the roundabout and sent many fleeing into the darkness to side streets. But about 8 a.m. -- more than five hours after the crackdown started -- the sound of tear gas canisters could be still be heard.
An article Thursday in Bahrain's state media quoted an official in the country's Ministry of the Interior talking about the crackdown.
"Public security forces carried out this morning the evacuation of the crowd and the protesters from Pearl Square after exhausting all opportunities for dialogue with them, some of them have responded and left quietly, while others refused to comply with the law, which called to intervene in order to disperse them," Bahrain News Agency reported.
But the toll of the crackdown was evident at Salamaniya hospital in Manama.
A group of angry people gathered at the hospital, along with distraught family members looking for loved ones.
Inside the hospital's emergency treatment room was a scene that neared chaos as injured people struggled, some with head traumas, or suffering with bloody wounds in the head and chest.
One 15-year-old boy there said he had gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He said he was with a group of people sleeping and was surprised by the police crackdown.
Doctors also complained that they were not allowed by security forces to get ambulances to the injured who were still on the ground near the roundabout Thursday morning.
Bahrain is among the latest Arab states to face a surge of dissent following the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt.

Egypt's domino effect

Bahrain's king condemns protester deaths

RELATED TOPICS

• Bahrain

This week, there have been thousands of activists camping at the foot of the Pearl Roundabout, a Bahraini landmark. For days, police were nowhere in sight as about 3,000 people laid out blankets and pitched tents in protest.
During the crackdown on Thursday, an ABC reporter was attacked while he was on the phone, describing the scene for the network. In the midst of his report, Miguel Marquez could suddenly be heard shouting on the audiotape, "Journalist! Journalist! No! No!" Heavy thuds and the sounds of police yelling could also be heard.
After several minutes, Marquez insisted repeatedly "I'm going! I'm going!" and called out for co-workers. Finally, he returned to the audio line and told what had just happened. His voice broke as he said, "These people are not screwing around."
Bahrain is an American ally and houses the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. In Washington, the State Department said Tuesday it was "very concerned" by the violence and said it welcomed the promise of an investigation.
The U.S. Embassy in Manama put out a statement on the crackdown Thursday.
"We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence," the statement said. "Please avoid these areas. If you encounter a large public gathering or demonstration, depart the vicinity immediately."
Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family, but two-thirds of the population are Shiites. In recent years, younger Shiites have staged violent protests to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, and many Shiites say the country's constitution has done little to improve their condition.
The protests in Bahrain started Sunday. The protests intensified earlier this week after two demonstrators were killed by security forces.
On Wednesday, Bahrain's Interior Ministry had said those involved in two deaths during previous protests had been placed in custody.
"We express our regret over those who died or were injured in the latest incidents and extend our sincere condolences to their families and to the people of Bahrain," according to a statement on the ministry's website.

After that, protesters had largely been left alone by police until the recent crackdown.