Police detained over Bahrain protest deaths

       The policemen have been detained over the deaths of  two anti-government protesters   in   Bahrain. (AFP: stringer )

Policemen behind the killing of two Shiites in Bahrain have been arrested, as protesters continued their demonstration in the centre of the capital, Manama.

"Those behind the two death cases have been detained and we have begun preliminary investigations," interior minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa said in a televised address.

The minister apologised for the killing of the two demonstrators in clashes with police on Monday and Tuesday, saying police should exercise restraint.

"We regret that the recent events have caused casualties and apologise to the nation, especially to the families of those who died or [were] wounded," he said.

"Over the past years I have always insisted that security personnel should exercise self-restraint to avoid such regrettable events, and we have succeeded in doing so," he said.

Thousands of Shiite demonstrators have poured into the capital on Wednesday to mourn the second protester killed in the clashes.

The man was shot dead when police and mourners clashed at a funeral procession for another protester.

"We are requesting our rights in a peaceful way," said Bakr Akil, a 20-year-old university student, wearing a sheet stained with red ink that he said was a symbol of his willingness to sacrifice his life for freedom.

"I am optimistic that our big presence will achieve our demands."

Women dressed in black abaya cloaks followed the procession with their own chants calling for peace and Bahraini unity.

Elsewhere in central Manama, witnesses said about 2,000 protesters had spent the night in tents at Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout, similar to the number marching on the streets a day earlier.

The protests, aimed at changing the regime, were called for by cyber activists.

The demonstrators from Bahrain's Shiite majority say the ruling Sunni minority shuts them out of housing, healthcare and government jobs.

Inspired by the uprisings of Egypt and Tunisia which led to the ousting of their respective Western-backed leaders, some Bahraini demonstrators said they will stay in the square until they topple the monarchy.

Bahrain, which is ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty, is a staunch ally of the United States and home to the US Navy Fifth fleet.

Sheikh Khalifa, the king's uncle, has governed the country since its independence in 1971 and is seen as being mostly concerned with keeping the ruling family's grip on politics and the economy.

- AFP/Reuters

Video : Protests spread to Bahrain