Second day of riots in Bahrain

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:58:24 GMT | PressTV

Masked Bahraini protesters burn tires in Jidhafs, Manama.

Police fired tear gas at rioters in Bahrain after they burned tires and trash cans and hurled stones, causing traffic jams outside the capital Manama.

The riots continued for the second day on Tuesday, with several people injured, but the police declined to give a specific number.

The riots erupted Monday after three opposition activists were arrested for supposedly ignoring summons by the public prosecutor for questioning linked to arrests last month of 14 Bahrainis for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government in Manama.

The three arrested Monday morning were the secretary general of the opposition Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, Hasan Mushaima; human rights committee chief and Haq spokesman, Abdul Jalil al-Singace; and Sheikh Mohammad Habib al-Miqdad.

On Tuesday, the public prosecutor charged the three Shia Muslim activists with promoting a coup "through terrorism", according to a statement issued by the public prosecutor's office.

The statement said they have also been charged with joining an outlawed group, violating other citizens' liberties, and inciting hatred against the ruling regime. One activist was released but banned from traveling, and the two others were in custody, the public prosecutor's office added.