MANAMA - MARCH 25 Annoyed by the mounting criticism of the government policy of supporting US led invasion of Iraq and the daily protest marches through the Manama streets, the Bahrain Government has urged its youth and students to end violent street protests, Gulf Daily News said quoting the Bahrain Interior Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said yesterday. "Violence and destruction goes beyond the bounds of freedom of expression, he said during a meeting with Parlia-ment members yesterday. Public protest has been mounting in various Gulf countries where the conservative governments have been covertly supporting the US UK Invasion of Iraq. Despute public relation statemwents issued to pacify public sentiment, the GCC governments are facing severe criticism for facilitating the US UK attack on a country devastated by several years economic sanction, and unfair way of disarmament.

"Bahrain Youths attacked and set fire to a police vehicle as they rampaged through Ras Ruman, near the British Embassy on Saturday.Other youngsters, many of them schoolboys, clashed with police near the US Embassy earlier in the day and again on Sunday.The violence was top of the agenda yesterday at the Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Economy Committee meeting," the report said.

Youngsters must behave in a civilised way, Shaikh Mohammed told the MPs. "Security Forces will do nothing to harm or hurt them, but will try their best to stop them from vandalising and destroying property," he said. According to Shaikh Mohammed tear gas was used to disperse the rioters, but that no rubber bullets were used, as claimed in some quarters.Committee vice-chairman Mohammed Al Abbas demanded that people demonstrate peacefully.

"What is the use of damaging public and private property, will the American attack on Iraq end?" said Mr Al Abbas. "If the youths hadn't turned violent, then Security Forces wouldn't have fired tear gas and many residents living near both embassies wouldn't have inhaled the gas. "Would anyone like to endanger his sister's and mother's life?" "The problem is these youths are unaware of the consequences of their actions on themselves, their society and the country's image."Mr Al Abbas thanked Shaikh Mohammed for the civilised manner in which Security Forces have acted. "But those who claim that rubber bullets have been fired, should come forward with substantial evidence," the Newspaper quoted the minsiter as saying. keralamonitor.com

Investigation into Explosion in US Military Camp

Investigators were at the scene of an explosion near the US naval support facility in Juffair until early today. According to reports, a device exploded inside a large refuse bin at around9 .40pm last night, immediately outside a housing compound opposite the Manama Club, about100 metres from the facility. "The blast was heard across Manama, but caused little damage and no-one was injured. Witnesses reported seeing a youth running from the scene and jumping into a car, just before the blast, which brought people running out of nearby buildings, said sources. An Interior Ministry official initially said the blast appeared to have been caused by a gas cylinder placed inside a waste container," reported Gulf Daily News. The blast shattered windows in nearby homes and the Manama Club, according to GDN report. It also blew the contents of the waste bin all over the street. BDF police, Civil Defence and Fire Service and forensics teams were at the scene within minutes of the explosion and were still there hours later. Part of the area was closed off while investigators combed the scene. The blast was heard as far away as Isa Town and all over Manama, with calls coming in to the GDN from Adliya, Juffair, Hoora, Salmaniya and other areas. -keralamonitor.com