Security forces in Saudi Arabia opened fire on protesters in the eastern city of Qatif last night as tensions escalated before pro-democracy rallies planned across the kingdom today.
Websites reported that police had fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at a crowd of between 600 to 800 people in the Shia-dominated city, which has been the scene of sporadic anti-government demonstrations in recent days. The protesters were demanding the release of nine Shia prisoners. Police said that three people, including a police officer, had been injured in the confrontation.
Video footage posted on YouTube showed a crowd of young men chanting: “Our demands are legitimate, our protest is peaceful.”
The Saudi Government had warned that it would not tolerate any protests as Riyadh braced itself for a “Day of Rage”. Activists plan to take their calls for reform on to the streets in a number of cities.
The protests will test the resolve of the world’s biggest oil exporter — and the largest economy in the Middle East — as demonstrators call for steps towards a constitutional monarchy.
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In the past few days there have been protests in the Eastern Province around Qatif, home to the main oil fields and the Shia minority.
Witnesses in Riyadh said that dozens of police vans and unmarked cars had already taken up positions near designated assembly points.
Gulf countries yesterday agreed a $20 billion (£12 billion) package over ten years for Bahrain and Oman to create jobs and housing.