Bahraini Policeman Killed in Damistan

Local Editor

A Bahraini policeman was killed late Monday in an attack in Damistan region.

Hours later, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid al-Khalifa allegedly claimed that "Hizbullah is responsible for the attack in the town of Damistan, southwest of Manama."

"Another policeman falls in Bahrain," he wrote on Twitter, claiming: "He was killed by a bomb made by Hizbullah...".

The interior ministry had said Tuesday one policeman was killed in a "terrorist" attack in Damistan.

The attack occurred Monday night in Damistan, southwest of Manama, while the officer was "doing his duty", the ministry said, adding that an investigation was under way.

Security forces set up a cordon around Damistan and tightened checks on the road leading to the village, residents said.

It was the first deadly attack on the security forces since parliamentary elections in November, boycotted by the main opposition group which is calling for democratic reforms.

The main opposition al-Wefaq movement reaffirmed its "rejection" of violence in a statement.

Small but strategic Bahrain, home base of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, continues its crackdown three years after the month-long protests.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team