Saudi Police Fire On Protesters
CNN reports:
(CNN) -- Three people were taken to the hospital Thursday after Saudi security forces fired on scores of protesters in the city of Qatif, according to two witnesses and an activist.
The protests took place one day ahead of a planned "Day of Rage" in the Middle Eastern country.
Defying a Saudi government ban on all kinds of public demonstrations, more than 100 people in the predominantly Shiite city in eastern Saudi Arabia urged authorities to release Shiite prisoners, the witnesses and activist said.
At some point, the witnesses said Saudi security forces shot to disperse the crowd. It was unknown if the forces fired rubber bullets or live ammunition. Those injured were taken to Qatif Central Hospital for treatment, the activist and witnesses said.
The witnesses and activist asked not to be named because they feared reprisals.
Ali Ahmed, the director of the Washington-based human rights advocacy group Institute for Gulf Affairs, who said he's been in touch with protesters, said a 16-year-old demonstrator was hurt in the hand, while an 18-year-old was injured in the foot. He claimed that a third unidentified person was more seriously hurt with injuries to the abdomen.
Ahmed said he had contacted the U.S. State Department with his concerns about the Saudi security forces' actions.
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