In Pictures

Gallery

Bahrain: a timeline in pictures

A depiction of major events in the Gulf kingdom since pro-democracy protests broke out.

February 17: Police clear the roundabout
The calm was short-lived, though. More than 1,000 police officers, armed with shotguns and tear gas, charged into the square in the early morning hours. More than 200 people were injured, and three were killed, two of them by shotgun blasts at close range.All 18 members parliament from Al Wefaq, the largest opposition political society, resigned in protest.
Published On 24 Mar 2012

The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain has been in upheaval since pro-democracy protests first erupted in February last year.

Persistent demonstrations, brutal security crackdowns and unremitting violence have followed since then.

Here is a look at the key moments of the unresolved conflict engulfing the kingdom:

February 15: The march to Pearl Roundabout
Another man, Fadhel al-Matrook, was shot and killed by police during Mushaima(***)s funeral. Thousands of angry demonstrators marched to Pearl Roundabout after Mushaima(***)s funeral, and the king issued a decree allowing them to remain. Bahrain(***)s main trade union began organising a general strike for February 17.
Advertisement
February 22: The largest anti-government rally
Low-level clashes would continue for two days, until February 19, when the king withdrew security forces from Manama and protesters returned to Pearl Roundabout.More than 100,000 people came out on February 22 for a massive rally to honor the victims of the previous week(***)s unrest. Many of them camped out in Pearl Roundabout overnight, and would remain in the square for weeks to come.
March 13: Clashes resume
Tensions would flare again in mid-March, when protesters tried to occupy the area outside Bahrain Financial Harbour, a key business hub downtown.They were violently dispersed by police, who then moved westward and tear-gassed the protesters encamped in Pearl Roundabout.
March 16: The army clears Pearl Roundabout
Troops from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf countries rolled into Bahrain on March 14; the king said they were invited to "help defuse the tension in Bahrain."Two days later, Bahraini security forces launched a massive operation to clear Pearl Roundabout, using helicopters and armoured vehicles to clear protesters while setting fire to their tents. Police also blocked access to hospitals; some protesters later reported officers conducting arrests inside medical facilities.
March 18: Pearl Roundabout is destroyed
Two days later, the Bahraini government knocked down the iconic statue in the centre of Pearl Roundabout. Armoured vehicles would remain deployed around the roundabout for months, preventing protesters from returning.
March 25: The "day of rage"
Youth activists organised a series of rallies in villages across Bahrain. Formal opposition groups like Al Wefaq decided not to participate.Villagers in Bilad al-Qadeem held a funeral for Hani Abdul Aziz, one of two people killed by police in a 24-hour period. Abdul Aziz was reportedly cornered by police inside a house, shot repeatedly, and left to bleed to death.
Advertisement
April 22: Doctors disappearing, rights group says
Dozens of doctors went missing over a period of several weeks, according to a report issued by Physicians for Human Rights.The group found that many of the doctors disappeared after being interrogated at Salmaniya Medical Complex, the largest hospital in Bahrain. Medical workers were often the target of abuse during the protests in February and March: Ambulances were prevented from reaching injured protesters, and paramedics disappeared for days at a time.
July 2: National Dialogue begins
A national dialogue organised by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa launched on July 2, with more than 300 participants, most of them government supporters.Some opposition groups boycotted the dialogue entirely. Al Wefaq had only 5 of the 300 seats, and it dropped out after only a few weeks, calling the talks a farce.
November 24: BICI report and more violence
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, the government body created to study the unrest, released its official report on November 23. It accused the government of widespread abuses, blaming security forces for widespread torture and arbitrary detentions.The report did little to calm the streets, though; violent clashes erupted in A(***)ali on November 24 after the funeral for a man reportedly killed by police.
March 20: Follow up report
March 20: The National Commission will release its follow up report to the king about implementing the reforms recommended after the previous report found widespread abuse.