DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. EMBASSY BAHRAIN

UNCLAS MANAMA 000414 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, M, S/CT, CA/OCS, INR, DS/ITA, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, AND A/OPR/ALS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ALOW ASEC BA CASC PTER SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. EMBASSY BAHRAIN ¶1. SUMMARY: On 26 March 2004, approximately 400 to 500 individuals staged a demonstration outside of the US Embassy Manama, Bahrain, purportedly to protest the killing of Sheikh Yassin by the Israeli Government. The demonstrators held a short peaceful demonstration in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy and quickly moved to a field approximately 300 yards from the Embassy. In what appeared to be a coordinated effort, demonstrators began throwing rocks and small pieces of concrete at police. The police responded immediately with repeated volleys of teargas and the crowd dispersed. Although police and demonstrators continued to engage in small skirmishes in the village of Zinj, the police remained in control of the area and by early evening calm had returned to the streets. Police reported numerous arrests and one injury to a demonstrator. US Embassy Manama did not sustain any damage and there were no injuries to personnel. END SUMMARY ¶2. On 26 March 2004, at 1630 approximately 150 demonstrators assembled on the south side of the Embassy complex and took up position on the Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Highway. The police immediately re-routed traffic off of Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Highway and stationed riot police in the immediate area. This initial group of 150 individuals appeared to be mainly students and appeared unorganized and more intent of taking photographs of each other than actually demonstrating. Within minutes, this group was joined by a larger group of 300 plus adults who appeared to be much better organized and more intent on making themselves heard. Upon arrival of the second group, the total crowd of 400 to 500 individuals began chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. RSO staff noted that during this time period, numerous Palestinian and Hizbollah flags could be seen. Although the crowd was vocal, they remained relatively peaceful and made no attempts to attack either the Embassy or riot police stationed in the area. ¶3. At 1700, the crowd departed the immediate area of the Embassy in mass and re-assembled in a field 300 yards to the west of the Embassy compound. After fifteen minutes of continued flag waving and chanting, members of the crowd, in what appeared to be a determined effort to provoke police, began throwing rocks and pieces of concrete. The police responded immediately with numerous volleys of teargas and began pursuing the protesters as they dispersed. Over the next hour the police continued to skirmish with small groups of protesters as the protesters set fire to trash dumpsters and tires in the village of Zinj. RSO staff counted approximately 200 canisters of teargas fired into the area. Shortly after 1800, calm appeared to have returned to the village of Zinj, police reported an end to the confrontation and reopened Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Highway. ¶4. Police reported eight arrests and only one injury to a demonstrator. No injuries to police were reported. FORD