Bahrain Disperses 'Rioters' in Shiite Village

Bahraini authorities have dispersed "rioters" throwing petrol bombs in the Shiite village of Bani Jamra, as tensions remain high in the kingdom, state news agency BNA reported on Friday.

"A number of vandals targeted security forces by throwing Molotov cocktails Thursday evening in Bani Jamra," in the northeast of the Sunni-ruled state, BNA quoted a top police official as saying.

Security forces "carried out their duty in dispersing the vandals and rioters," it said, without specifying what means were used or reporting injuries or arrests.

"A group of vandals took to the streets and began throwing Molotov cocktails at them, completely burning the front of a vehicle and destroying another that crashed into a wall while trying to avoid the bombs," it said.

Members of Bahrain's opposition were not immediately available for comment.

Shiite-led demonstrations that rocked the Gulf state in February-March were crushed as government forces used live ammunition and heavy-handed tactics to scatter protesters.

A report by an independent commission of inquiry released on Wednesday found that police used "excessive force" and tortured detainees in the crackdown.

The death toll from the unrest has reached 35, including five security personnel and five detainees who were tortured to death while in custody, according to the commission. Hundreds of others were injured.

The report said 11 other people were killed later, and concluded that a total of 2,929 people were detained during the protest movement and at least 700 remain in prison.

The 500-page report also said there was evidence that Sunni Muslims "were the target of... humiliation, physical assaults, and attacks against their property."

King Hamad vowed reforms following the commission's findings but tensions have remained high.