Security forces opened fire on protesters in the southern city of Daraa on Wednesday, killing at least 25 demonstrators. While activists claimed that many more had been killed, hospital sources reported 25 bodies with bullet wounds. Security forces have come down hard on recent demonstrations, with at least 32 protesters having been killed since Friday 18 March.
A day after martial law was declared in the kingdom, Bahraini security forces have carried out a crackdown on protesters camped out at Pearl Square in the capital Manama. Security forces, backed by tanks, drove out the protesters from their camps in violent clashes which resulted in the deaths of at least three protesters and three policemen. Security forces have also reportedly surrounded the Salmaniya hospital and are refusing entry to wounded protesters.
Security forces reportedly used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse anti-government protesters in the capital Sana’a over the weekend. Six protesters died in the clashes while up to a hundred were left injured.
Security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Abidjan on Tuesday, killing four people. They were protesting against the deaths of seven female protesters and marking International Women’s Day. Ivory Coast has seen an increase in violence recently, with a rising number of attacks on journalists and media organisations.