MANAMA - Bahraini police and anti-government protesters clashed in a number of Shi'ite districts of the Gulf Arab state on Thursday night and the interior ministry said two policemen had been seriously injured in a petrol bomb attack.
Riot police have maintained a heavier presence than usual in areas populated by majority Shi'ites this week to prevent mass protests on the anniversary of the Feb. 14 pro-democracy uprising last year.In the district of Sar police fired volleys of stun grenades and tear gas to break up groups of teenagers who threw stones and petrol bombs. It was not clear who started the clash. Some residents shouted anti-government slogans and the Muslim call 'Allahu akbar' -- God is great -- from inside their homes or on rooftops.
Police said homemade bombs containing nails had been thrown at them. In the nearby village of Bani Jamra police said they had defused an improvised explosive device left on wasteland. They fired rounds of tear gas into an adjoining cemetery where youths were hiding.
