Hundreds of Bahrainis staged a sit-in at the United Nations offices in Manama today to protest "execessive use" of tear gas by police. The protesters wore medical masks and carried empty tear gas cannisters that were allegedly used by police to crackdown against protests in the country.

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Bahrainis protest against use of tear gas (Agence France-Presse):

Hundreds of Bahrainis staged on Thursday a sit-in outside the offices of the United Nations demanding action over the "excessive" use by police of tear gas against protesters.

Protesters gathered outside the UN house in Manama, in a rally organised by the Shiite-led opposition, according to a statement by Al-Wefaq, the main opposition formation.

Police are regularly clashing with protesters who take to the streets in Shiite villages despite last year's brutal crackdown on a month-long protest that demanded democratic change in the Sunni-ruled Gulf monarchy.

Protesters, including men and women, wore medical masks and carried used tear gas canisters of the type reportedly used by police to disperse demonstrations, according to pictures provided by the opposition.

Dozens of used tear gas canisters were also piled up by the protesters outside UN offices, the pictures showed.

Protesters chanted slogans demanding the international community to "take a stance against those crimes, and dangerous violations by Bahraini authorities against unarmed" people, said the statement.

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