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Arab Spring: Bahrain
The protests in the Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain began on 14 February 2011, when several hundred demonstrators set up an illegal tent camp on the central Pearl Court in Manama. The predominantly Shiite population protests mainly against the Sunni royal house of Hamad bin Isa Al Chalifa. During the night of 16-17 February, the camp was evacuated by special police units, leaving four people dead. In the following weeks, tens of thousands of people demonstrated. On 14 March Saudi Arabia sent 1 000 soldiers to the country at the request of the Bahraini government, and a state of emergency was declared the following day. The Bahraini opposition viewed this invasion as a declaration of war and as occupation by foreign troops. Bahraini troops took action against demonstrators. In the following days all protests were violently suppressed. Some Shiite ministers and high judges resigned in protest. Numerous people were arrested. On 1 June 2011 the state of emergency was lifted. From September 2011 on, there were always bigger or smaller protest rallies, especially during the Formula 1 race in Bahrain 2012. (wp)