Today marked another bloody day in Bahrain as riot police attacked unarmed protesters at the Lulu Roundabout and the Bahrain Financial Harbo. The protesters were attacked with tear gas.

The police were attempting to disperse the crowed that had gathered at the two venues. But the protesters resisted and were then attacked by rubber bullets and hot high pressured water cannons.

According to reports, the protesters were also attacked by the king’s supporters, known as the baltagies. They were attacked with swords and wooden planks with nails sticking out of them.

According to reports, there have been several injuries with hundreds of people being rushed to hospitals. Hospitals are overcrowded with the number of injured people they are receiving.

Meanwhile we have received reports of another attack at the University of Bahrain. It is reported that several attackers belonging to the baltagies attacked some five thousand plus students taking part in anti-government protests over there. Reports say the attackers manage to sneak onto the University campus and attacked the students. An Islamic society called Alwefaq, managed to transfer some of the students by bus away from the attacks.

The attacks on the University of Bahrain students have left several people injured and 4 students reported to be in critical conditions.

Authorities in Bahrain are denying their forces carried out the attacks and blame the protesters for starting th violence.

Several thousand opposition supporters marched into Manama’s Pearl Roundabout today despite authorities using deadly force to clear the area just two days ago.

Eye witnesses at the scene describe how police fired rubber bullets to try and disperse the crowed but ended up having to leave the scene. A few of the protesters were hurried to the hospital.

On Thursday, Bahrain authorities ordered tanks and soldiers to be situated at the Manama’s Pearl Roundabout. Deadly force was then used to break up the protesters.

Bahrain – justification of violence

The Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Khalifa, defended the violent crackdown as being unavoidable because the protesters were a threat to the country’s stability.

On Friday, the demontrators again tried to march to the Manama’s Pearl Roundabout but were stopped by rubber bullets, tear gas and birdshots.

Shortly after that, the Crown Prince of Baharain, Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Khalifa, requested a national forum to bring the crisis to an end.

This offer of dialogue was quickly rejected by the main opposition.

Protester’s desire stronger than their fear

Ali Ahmed spoke at the Roundabout on saturday. He describe the demontrators desire for change as being stronger than their fear of intimidation by the authorities.

He said, “I was coming here and I was telling myself and the family – I don’t care whether I die or live, but if I die I’ll bring you freedom. If I live, I’ll live the freedom with you,”

A leading Human Rights activist, Nabeel Rajab said the mood of people on Saturday is “victorious”

Nabeel Rajab said “People feel a little bit of victory, especially because they have lost six lives over the past few days and four lives because of this square. It was a smart move by the government and by the riot police to pull out, because I would expect more people would have been hurt and attacked and we could have had more people dead,” said Rajab.

Inspiration for Bahrain demonstrations

The Bahrain demonstrations have been inspired by recent opposition successes in Tunisia and Egypt. The protest started on February 14. The demonstrators initially wanted equality, more human rights and for political prisoners to be freed. Since then their demands have changed to the desire for a new govenment.