Five killed in clashesMANAMA: Soldiers and riot police in Bahrain overran a protesters' camp, imposed a 12-hour curfew and choked off movement nationwide Wednesday. The government called the demonstrators “outlaws” for demanding an end to the monarchy. The nation that once led the Middle East in entrepreneurial openness went into lockdown, its government propped up by troops from Gulf neighbors. Wednesday's assault began in Pearl Square, the center of the uprising inspired by Arab revolts in Egypt and Tunisia. But the violence that left at least five people dead Wednesday did not stop in the capital. The Bahraini king's announcement of a three-month emergency rule and the crackdown on Pearl Square sent a message that authorities will strike back in the strategic island nation, which hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama stressed the need for “maximum restraint.” Security forces barred journalists and others from moving freely. A 4 P.M. to 4 A.M. curfew was imposed in most of the country. Witnesses said at least two protesters were killed when the square was stormed. Officials at Ibn Nafees Hospital said a third protester died later. A government statement said the only deaths during the raid were two policemen who were “repeatedly run over by three vehicles containing protesters”. The government did not say whether the offensive included soldiers from other Gulf nations. State TV showed military vehicles flying Bahrain's red-and-white flag as security officials moved through the wreckage of the encampment, set up at the base of a monument to the country's history as a pearl diving center. During the attack, protesters fled into side streets and security forces blocked main roads into Manama. Mobile phones were apparently jammed during the height of the attack and Internet service remained at a crawl. In some areas people lit fires in anger. Clashes were reported in other areas, where traffic was controlled by military forces in an apparent attempt to prevent gatherings or a surge of people toward the capital. A government statement said forces conducted an operation to “cleanse” Pearl Square and later state TV called the demonstrators “saboteurs” and “outlaws”.
