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A woman covers her face during a standoff with police after a mourning procession on the third day after the death of Yassin Al-Afsoor in the village of Mameer
A woman covers her face during a standoff with police after a mourning procession on the third day after the death of Yassin Al-Afsoor in the village of Mameer Reuters

As Egyptians mark the first anniversary of the revolution, Bahraini Shia protesters have also taken to the street in the capital Manama and across the country.

Security forces have used tear gas and stun grenade after opposition groups staged a march in the capital defying the government's warning against unauthorised rallies.

Police also established checkpoints as tensions increased.

Both the security forces and the protesters accuse each other of violence as clashes between the two camps escalate.

A government statement claimed that at least 41 police officers were injured in the confrontations.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency also said the security forces had detained protesters who had blocked the roads and threw Molotov cocktails at the police.

"The nature of the attacks reflected a serious escalation in the violent tactics of groups and individuals supporting the political opposition," the authority said.

However several civilians and activists were also wounded on Tuesday in clashes with the security forces in villages outside the capital.

Understanding Bahrain: Al-Wefaq, Hezbollah, Iran and the Kingdom's Monarchy

Most of the people who took part in the marches insist the regime is leading a severe crackdown on mainly peaceful protesters.

Anger peaked over the weekend during the funeral of Yousif al-Mawal, a 24 year-old man who police said was a victim of drowning.

His family have denied the official account, saying he was arrested, tortures and then dumped. The BBC said it saw pictures of his body that appeared to show 'abrasions and bruises consistent with beating.'

On 19 January, another protester, 14-year-old Yaseen al-Asfoor, who suffered from asthma, died in hospital from tear gas inhalation.

Wednesday, pictures of Muntadhar Fakhar, another young man were posted on Twitter. Officials said he died in an accident, but the photograph shows him handcuffed, covered with blood at the back of a car.

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