| Saudi forces open fire on pro-democracy protesters
Agencies,30 September 2012
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RIYADH, Sep 30: Saudi forces have opened fire on a group of pro-democracy demonstrators in the country's Eastern Province as protests against the Al Saud regime intensify in the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom.
Witnesses say regime forces attacked demonstrators in the eastern city of Qatif, situated 418 kilometers (259 miles) east of the capital Riyadh, on Saturday after they chanted slogans against the government and called for the downfall of the ruling Al Saud monarchy.
There were no immediate reports of casualties among the protesters.
The incident came days after Saudi security forces shot dead a teenager and an activist as they broke up a protest in Qatif city.
The unnamed sixteen-year-old boy was killed on September 26 as security forces were trying to arrest opposition activist Khaled al-Labbad, who also lost his life during the assault.
Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry confirmed on September 27 that its security forces shot dead two men after they raided a house to arrest Labbad.
Labbad was on a list of 23 people wanted by the Saudi regime. They are accused of organizing anti-regime protests in the Arab kingdom.
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in the Kingdom's east, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah, calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the region.
Saudi forces have also arrested dozens of people including prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nemr al-Nemr.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”
There were no immediate reports of casualties among the protesters.
The incident came days after Saudi security forces shot dead a teenager and an activist as they broke up a protest in Qatif city.
The unnamed sixteen-year-old boy was killed on September 26 as security forces were trying to arrest opposition activist Khaled al-Labbad, who also lost his life during the assault.
Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry confirmed on September 27 that its security forces shot dead two men after they raided a house to arrest Labbad.
Labbad was on a list of 23 people wanted by the Saudi regime. They are accused of organizing anti-regime protests in the Arab kingdom.
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in the Kingdom's east, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah, calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the region.
Saudi forces have also arrested dozens of people including prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nemr al-Nemr.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”
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