Shi'ite riots erupt in Bahrain, base of U.S. Fifth Fleet

Thousands of Shi'ites have clashed with security forces in the worst unrest in Bahrain this year. The riots began in Manama on Nov. 29 and continued through early Friday, Middle East Newsline reported. Dozens of people were reported injured as much of the downtown area has been paralyzed.

Overnight Friday, about 100 Shi'ite teenagers torched police cars and garbage bins near the Bahrain International Exhibition Center. They also detonated gas cylinders and clashed with anti-riot police.

The violence has paralyzed much of downtown Bahrain. For hours, police kept shoppers inside a major mall out of concern that they would be attacked by rioters.

The Interior Ministry, which has used helicopters to quell the riots, warned of a crackdown on law-breakers. At least 15 people were arrested in the latest rioting.

World Tribune

"Officials said the riots appeared linked to a split in the Shi'ite community. They said the majority Shi'ite community has been divided into those who seek reform and others who do not recognize Sunni rule in Bahrain, by far the smallest oil producer in the region."

I'm not sure what the rioting is about in Bahrain. I know all the Middle East countries have a terrible human rights record.

There are a lot of Shi'ites in Iran. Most of these individuals seem to be younger people.

Any clues?

I'm not sure at all what this is about, but I know some people in the area that will probably know. I've been all over the areas mentioned in the article.

The ruling family is Sunni while the vast majority of the citizenry is Shiite. There is also a large ex-pat community from many countries, east and west.

The new ruler is a reformer who recently simultaneously declared a Kingdom (previously known as "The State of Bahrain") and held parliamentary elections. He looks to Dubai as his development model. The Bahraini national petroleum company (BAPETCO) is a bit-player. Trade will be the island nation's economic future.

They've had riots there before protesting the ruling family, although things have been quiet and relatively prosperous for some time now.

Please let us know if you find out what's going on.

So, Bahrain has a ruling family which is Sunni, and yet the vast majority is Shi'Ite. This is exactly the same situation in Iraq, before the U.S. marched in. Interesting. Probably unstable.

I've read that Saudi Arabia is basically a powder keg, ready to blow. They have an unemployment rate of 25%. Lots and lots of disenfranchised young men, and we know what happens when you have that (look at Paris).

Eager to hear details.

Things are getting blown a little out of proportion....

Yes there was some rioting here in Bahrain. Quite a bit worse than the usual protest, true, which is why it's getting as much press as it is.

First, it had nothing to do with the US presence here. They were nowhere near the base. From reading the local blogs and the paper, it had more to do with unemployment complaints than anything else. Then it got violent when stories (the veracity of which I don't know) that police had abused/raped a local man who was protesting.

As someone else above said, the Sunni/Shia divide had a lot to do with the complaints also. The king is Sunni, and when he declared himself ruler a few years ago he created a new house in the parliament, whose members (unlike the existing one where people were elected)were appointed directly by him. By strange coincidence, these new representatives were also mostly Sunni...

Bahrain is a small, peaceful country. While it is not as free as your typical Western nation, it is fairly progressive and safe to live in. These riots are not par for the course here.