Geneva: The UN human rights chief on Wednesday
expressed alarm at the use of "disproportionate force" by
Bahrain authorities on protestors and urged law enforcers to
end any violent crackdown immediately.
"I urge the authorities to immediately cease the use
of disproportionate force against peaceful protestors and to
release all peaceful demonstrators who have been arrested,"
said Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a
statement.
Thousands of Bahrainis demonstrated in the capital
Manama demanding regime change in the Gulf kingdom like that
in Egypt and Tunisia after two protesters were killed in
clashes with police.
Fadel Salman Matrouk was shot dead in front of a
hospital today where mourners gathered for the funeral of Ali
Msheymah who died of his wounds after police dispersed a
protest in a village east of Manama yesterday.
Both were killed by "members of Bahrain`s security
forces," said Pillay.
The UN rights chief noted that "too many peaceful
protestors have recently been killed across the Middle East
and North Africa."
"Authorities everywhere must scrupulously avoid
excessive use of force, which is strictly forbidden in
international law," stressed Pillay.
"They must conduct prompt, impartial and transparent
investigations where there have been breaches of this
obligation," she added.
PTI
