Bahrain troops use tanks and tear gas to clear protest camp

Security forces in Bahrain launched a crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators today, using tanks and tear gas to clear a protest camp in the capital Manama.

At least six people were killed after martial law was imposed yesterday by the Gulf state's Sunni Muslim rulers in an attempt to quell protests by Shia opposition.

The full-scale assault began at daybreak as troops swept into Pearl Square, the focus for anti-government protests which began a month ago.
Clouds of tear gas filled streets and black smoke rose from burning tents.

Witnesses said at least two protesters were killed when the square was stormed, while officials said a third died later from gunshot wounds to his back.

Bahrain state television said two policemen died when they were hit by a vehicle, and the Interior Ministry stated that at least one other had died. Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt called for "restraint on all sides" as the scenes unfolded but rejected comparisons with Libya amid suggestions that Britain should intervene.

"In Bahrain the government does want to talk and has been trying to do that," he told BBC news. "That's completely absent in Libya and the situations are completely different." A Bahraini defence official warned the country's citizens not to gather in public following the crackdown, and said protesters had also been cleared from Salmaniya hospital.

Helicopters flew overhead and riot police fired tear gas as they advanced on the Pearl roundabout. Youths hurled petrol bombs in retaliation but the area was cleared within two hours.

A member of parliament from the largest Shia opposition group denounced the assault as a declaration of war. "This is a war of annihilation. This does not happen even in wars and this is not acceptable," Abdel Jalil Khalil said. "I saw them fire live rounds, in front of my own eyes."

The crackdown came a day after King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa declared a three-month state of emergency, giving the military permission to take "all necessary measures" to maintain order.

Troops from neighbouring Gulf states, including 1,000 from Saudi Arabia, were called in at the ruler's invitation to help deal with the situation - a move which was denounced by Iran, escalating tensions in the region. Standard Chartered and HSBC said they had closed all their branches in Bahrain following the clashes. The banks have 11 branches between them and around 800 staff in the country.

The Foreign Office said Britons in Bahrain should stay at home but be ready to leave at short notice. The latest travel advice said anyone without a pressing need to remain "should leave by commercial means as soon as it is safe to do so".

Contingency plans are in place to evacuate Britons if necessary.

Bahrain has been gripped by its worst unrest since the Nineties after protesters took to the streets last month, inspired by uprisings that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia.

In Egypt today US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton toured Cairo's Tahrir Square, the focus of the rebellion.

"It's just a great reminder of the power of the human spirit and universal desire for freedom and human rights and democracy," Mrs Clinton said. "It's just thrilling to see where this happened. To see where this revolution happened, after all that it has meant to the world, is extraordinary for me."

Mrs Clinton's two-day visit to Egypt is aimed at encouraging the people and their transitional leaders to hold true to the ideals of democratic reforms that propelled the revolution.