REUTERS

MANAMA: Thousands of Bahraini Shiites clashed with security forces Friday during the funeral of a man opposition group Al-Wefaq said died after a police assault, witnesses said. Ali al-Daihi, father of Al-Wefaq’s Deputy Secretary-General Hussein al-Daihi, died Thursday from wounds he suffered a day earlier when he was attacked by riot police, the group said on its website. The government said he died of natural causes.

Demonstrators clashed with police after Daihi’s body was buried, a Reuters photographer said, adding Shiite protesters chanted anti-government slogans. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators. No casualties were reported.

Bahrain’s Sunni ruling family brought in troops from Sunni allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates earlier this year to help crush a protest movement they said was fomented by Iran and had Shiite sectarian motives.
Nabeel Rajab, head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said on Twitter that Bahraini police had blocked roads leading to the funeral in the Shiite district of Al-Daih.
“I am trying to get there, government blocked all roads so people do not take part in the funeral,” Rajab said.
Al-Wefaq said Daihi was attacked by riot police when he was returning home Wednesday.

“The assault left a deep wound in his head, bruises to his forehead, a cut near his eye and blood gushing from his mouth,” it said in a statement Friday.
The government’s Information Affairs Authority said Daihi died of natural causes and that the Health Ministry had denied Al-Wefaq’s claim of a violent attack.

“He had reportedly fainted at home and injured his lower lip, according to a Health Ministry source,” the IAA said.
Bahrain is hoping to conclude an arms deal with the United States but the purchase could hinge on the results of a commission investigating this year’s unrest and claims by Shiites of abuse they suffered during martial law.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain.