One day after Bahraini military forcefully ousted demonstrators from a central square, the authorities detained key opposition leaders early on Thursday in what is said to be the next phase of a crackdown against reform-seeking opponents. Hassan Mushaima, a prominent Shiite leader, who arrived in Bahrain from London last month, was taken into custody last night. Ibrahim Sharif, the head of a secular party, was also arrested along with other key political opponents. The arrests have made it clear that the government of Bahrain has decided to shift tactics to violent repression after last month’s attempts to appease the protestors failed.
Meanwhile Foreign Office in Pakistan rejected the rumors that Bahrain has asked for military assistance from Pakistan. About 70,000 Pakistani’s reside in Bahrain.
