Bahrain's Royal Family Urges Military to Use Violence Against Protesters

The violence in Bahrain continued to escalate Friday, as the Bahraini royal family ordered the army to use force to quash protests in Pearl Square. The demonstrations have been violent all week—five people were reported killed on Thursday—but on Friday, reports said the military had fired tear gas and even live ammunition on the crowd. As protesters fled the scene, they shouted, “They are killing our people! They are killing our people!” Others refused to run and instead held their hands in the air and shouted, “Peaceful! Peaceful!” Protesters insisted they are not calling for the abdication of Bahrain’s Sunni king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, but are instead calling for a constitutional monarchy and the resignation of his uncle, who has been prime minister for 39 years.