Street clashes between protesters, riot police erupt near former Bahrain protest hub
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Riot police in Bahrain have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of marchers trying to reach a heavily guarded square that was once the hub of their anti-government uprising.
The clash followed ceremonies Monday to mark the end of Shiite religious commemorations known as Ashoura. It was the heaviest clash in months near Pearl Square, where Shiite-led protesters gathered in February 2011 to demand a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom. It has since been closed off.
The street battles spilled into surrounding Shiite neighborhoods.
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Bahraini authorities have outlawed protest marches in an attempt to quell growing violence in the more than 21-month-old unrest. Shiite leaders say they plan more marches in defiance of the order.
Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.