The clashes erupted on Wednesday, when crowds of people demonstrated in several towns and villages to mark the end of the mourning days for Yusef al-Nashmi, the latest victim of the regime’s brutal crackdown on the people.

Al-Nashmi died on October 11 after spending almost a month in custody.

On Saturday, Bahraini riot police fired shots and used tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-regime protesters marching in the village of Sanabis, west of the capital Manama, where a funeral was being held for al-Nashmi.

A protester, identified as Abdullah Yassin, was hit by shotgun pellets and was taken to hospital, where he is reported to be in critical condition.

The Bahraini uprising began in mid-February 2011. Protesters initially called for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for an end to the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more have been detained since the popular uprising began in the Persian Gulf country.

SHI/SHI