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| Bahrain bomb blasts kill two foreign workers | Bahrain bomb blasts kill two foreign workers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two foreign workers have been killed and a third seriously injured by bomb blasts in Bahrain, officials say. | Two foreign workers have been killed and a third seriously injured by bomb blasts in Bahrain, officials say. |
| Police said there were five explosions caused by home-made devices in two areas of the capital Manama on Monday. | Police said there were five explosions caused by home-made devices in two areas of the capital Manama on Monday. |
| One of the men died at the scene when he kicked a device in Gudaibiya. The second died in hospital after being injured by an explosion near a cinema. | One of the men died at the scene when he kicked a device in Gudaibiya. The second died in hospital after being injured by an explosion near a cinema. |
| A third explosion in Adliya injured another man working as a cleaner. Officials said the victims were Asian. | A third explosion in Adliya injured another man working as a cleaner. Officials said the victims were Asian. |
| Their nationalities are not known, but the biggest expatriate communities in Bahrain are Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi. | Their nationalities are not known, but the biggest expatriate communities in Bahrain are Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi. |
| According to the 2010 census, there are more than 660,000 foreign nationals living in Bahrain - the vast majority of whom are described as Asian - out of a total population of 1,235,000. | According to the 2010 census, there are more than 660,000 foreign nationals living in Bahrain - the vast majority of whom are described as Asian - out of a total population of 1,235,000. |
| The head of Capital Governorate Police urged all residents of Bahrain not to touch strange objects and to notify the authorities if they saw one. | The head of Capital Governorate Police urged all residents of Bahrain not to touch strange objects and to notify the authorities if they saw one. |
| The opposition in Bahrain has been saying for several months that what it calls government inaction in dealing with legitimate demands is only stoking the potential for violence. | The opposition in Bahrain has been saying for several months that what it calls government inaction in dealing with legitimate demands is only stoking the potential for violence. |
| No-one I spoke with was surprised by the attacks. "The absence of a political process only benefits extremists on both sides," was how one opposition figure put it. Others have criticised the lack of detail from the authorities that would back up government assertions the devices were planted by terrorists. Indeed, on social media websites there are many claims that the explosions either never took place or were the work of the police themselves. | |
| Such is the climate of distrust claims like these are taken at face value by angry and frustrated young activists who believe the West has abandoned them. That in itself may lead to the kind of violence the opposition says it is determined to avoid. | Such is the climate of distrust claims like these are taken at face value by angry and frustrated young activists who believe the West has abandoned them. That in itself may lead to the kind of violence the opposition says it is determined to avoid. |
| An investigation into who caused the blasts, which the official Bahrain News Agency described as an "act of terrorism", is under way. | An investigation into who caused the blasts, which the official Bahrain News Agency described as an "act of terrorism", is under way. |
| Last month, a policeman was killed by a bomb explosion while on patrol during an anti-government protest in the village of al-Akr. Another later died of burns he suffered after being hit by a Molotov cocktail in April. | Last month, a policeman was killed by a bomb explosion while on patrol during an anti-government protest in the village of al-Akr. Another later died of burns he suffered after being hit by a Molotov cocktail in April. |
| Twitter sentences | Twitter sentences |
| Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since demonstrators took to the streets of Manama in February 2011, demanding more democracy and an end to what they said was discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. | Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since demonstrators took to the streets of Manama in February 2011, demanding more democracy and an end to what they said was discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni royal family. |
| At least 60 people, including several police officers, have been killed, and thousands injured and jailed, since the uprising began in February 2011. The opposition puts the death toll at 80, a figure the authorities dispute. | At least 60 people, including several police officers, have been killed, and thousands injured and jailed, since the uprising began in February 2011. The opposition puts the death toll at 80, a figure the authorities dispute. |
| Last week, the interior ministry announced a ban on all rallies and public gatherings, prompting condemnation from human rights groups. | Last week, the interior ministry announced a ban on all rallies and public gatherings, prompting condemnation from human rights groups. |
| Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech and expression could no longer be accepted. | Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said "repeated abuse" of the rights to freedom of speech and expression could no longer be accepted. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the ban "could aggravate the situation in the country" and urged the government "to lift them without delay", while the US State Department said it was "deeply concerned". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the ban "could aggravate the situation in the country" and urged the government "to lift them without delay", while the US State Department said it was "deeply concerned". |
| On Wednesday, foreign ministers from the Gulf Co-operation Council are scheduled to meet in Bahrain to discuss regional issues, including the unrest in Bahrain and Kuwait, where opposition supporters have been protesting against the emir's changes to the electoral law. | On Wednesday, foreign ministers from the Gulf Co-operation Council are scheduled to meet in Bahrain to discuss regional issues, including the unrest in Bahrain and Kuwait, where opposition supporters have been protesting against the emir's changes to the electoral law. |
| Bahrain's King Hamad brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni GCC states to restore order and crush dissent in March 2011. | Bahrain's King Hamad brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni GCC states to restore order and crush dissent in March 2011. |
| In a separate development on Monday, a court in Manama handed down prison sentences to another two online activists accused of "defaming" the king in comments posted on Twitter. | In a separate development on Monday, a court in Manama handed down prison sentences to another two online activists accused of "defaming" the king in comments posted on Twitter. |
| One defendant was given a four-month sentence while the other was given one month. Their names have not been released. | One defendant was given a four-month sentence while the other was given one month. Their names have not been released. |
| They were among four people arrested last month on the same charges. Appearing in court on 22 October, they all denied any wrongdoing. | They were among four people arrested last month on the same charges. Appearing in court on 22 October, they all denied any wrongdoing. |
| A third activist was imprisoned for six months by the court on Friday, while a verdict in the case of the fourth is expected later this month. | A third activist was imprisoned for six months by the court on Friday, while a verdict in the case of the fourth is expected later this month. |
| Are you in the area? Please contact us using the form below. | Are you in the area? Please contact us using the form below. |