Bahraini demonstration in support of al-Qatif of Saudi Arabia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU8RlQuPbM8
Saudi snipers target protesters
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/211994.html
Fri Nov 25, 2011 9:36AM
The Saudi regime is facing an escalating uprising against its authoritarian rule. Protesters have remained defiant despite the Al Saud regime's harsh crackdown. Now, footage has emerged from the kingdom showing regime snipers targeting anti-government protesters.
A tank tries to run over protesters in Saudi Arabia
http://observers.france24.com/content/20111125-saudi-araba-tank-tries-run-over-protesters-qatif-shiite-sunni-funeral-sniper-vehicle-interior-ministry
http://backupurl.com/qpdevc
25/11/2011 / SAUDI ARABIA
Amateur footage shows a tank deliberately trying to hit protesters in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Qatif on Wednesday. Our Observer told us that this kind of violence is unprecedented in Saudi Arabia. Similar incidents have, however, recently taken place in Bahrain and Egypt.
The demonstrators had gathered in the city centre for the funerals of two people killed during rallies last week. Security forces cracked down on protesters once again; two people were killed and nine injured. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said "these losses took place during an exchange of gunfire with unidentified criminals who infiltrated the population and opened fire from residential areas." According to the Interior Ministry, two of the injured were policemen.
An armoured vehicle tries to hit protesters following the funeral of two protesters on Wednesday in Qatif.
Since March, residents of Qatif, which is a majority Shiite city, have held frequent anti-government demonstrations. Shiites represent just 10 percent of the total population, and are considered to be heretics by the country's Sunni leaders. They are marginalised at every level: religious, political and social.
Moktar B.
"Snipers were stationed in the big water tower that can be seen in the background of the video"
Moktar B. (not his real name) is one of our Observers in Qatif.
I have been in Qatif since the start of the demonstrations and have taken part in most of them. What I can say is it's unusual for security forces to use such violence as they did on Wednesday. As people left the cemetery after the two protesters' funeral, a group of people started shouting anti-government slogans. Very quickly, the police moved in, as you can see in the images. According to my sources, the two people who died were shot at by snipers stationed in the big water tower that can be seen in the background of the video. Then a tank arrived and began to try to mow people down. Most people ran out of the way, but in the last three seconds, you can see the tank hit a man. [Editor's Note: It is not clear from the video whether the tank actually hit a person or an object].
Authorities said the two people that died on Wednesday were killed in an exchange of fire between criminals, but I don't believe that. I know people who went to protest – they are young, mostly between 20 and 30 years old. They are unemployed and feel marginalized by the authorities. I tried to find out who the leader of the movement was, but there is none. Since the beginning of the unrest, I haven't seen any armed protesters.
All people are asking for is that their rights be respected. Since the start of the unrest in March, protesters have demanded that political prisoners be freed. They have been imprisoned without trial and for no reason, some for as long as 15 years.
Since the start of the protests, checkpoints have been set up throughout the city. There are tanks, jeeps and soldiers with automatic guns. Residents do not understand why their movements are being limited in this way. The police are arresting a lot of young people, in particular. Young people spend hours at police checkpoints before they can enter or leave the city. Of course, this only fires up the youth even more."
During the funeral procession for two protesters killed on Wednesday, people chanted slogans against the Saudi royal family.
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