THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Bahrain's embattled government has pressed ahead with its campaign against middle-class professionals it suspects of taking part in anti-regime protests, announcing the suspension of more than 100 civil servants.A statement said the 111 people at the ministry for education would also be referred for legal action and quoted the education minister, Majid bin Ali al-Nuaimi, as saying it followed an investigation into "flagrant violations" of rules concerning schools.
The education ministry did not give details of how many of the employees suspended were teachers, but made clear the action was a response to a strike call by the Bahraini Teachers' Association.
"The association called for the strike for political reasons in a bid to cripple schools", Mr al-Nuaimi said.
Bahrain, a key western ally, has conducted a wide-ranging campaign against opposition groups and political parties since using the army, along with reinforcements from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to clear protesters from the streets. At least 30 people are thought to have been killed.
Among those detained have been doctors who treated the wounded, while opposition newspaper editors have also been told they will be prosecuted for their coverage of the unrest. » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Sunday, April 17, 2011
