Four demonstrators were martyrd Thursday in an early morning police crackdown on protesters and ensuing clashes in Bahrain's capital Manama, witnesses said.
Police surrounded the central Pearl Square roundabout where the protesters had camped out during the night and used tear gas and opened fire without warning about 3 am (0000 GMT), witnesses told the German Press Agency dpa.
Police has closed down the area between the square and Salamnyia hospital, witnesses said, adding that the atmosphere remained "very tense."
Three protesters were killed when police cleared the square. According to witness reports another protester was killed and one seriously injured in later clashes in the area.
