Saudi police in show of force to prevent protests

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

Omar Hasan | March 11, 2011

Saudi Arabia launched a massive security operation Friday in a menacing show of force to deter protesters from a planned a "Day of Rage" to press for democratic reform in the kingdom.

Illegal demonstrations were supposed to start after Muslim Friday prayers at noon but as the mosques emptied there were no signs of rallies, with security men manning checkpoints in key locations across several cities.

In the strategic Olaya commercial centre of the capital Riyadh, where protesters were urged to congregate, hundreds of security personnel surrounded the mosque and inspected motorists' identification documents.

=snip=

Online activists using Facebook and Twitter have called for a "Day of Rage" and a "Saudi March 11 revolution" demanding a fully elected parliament and ruler in this conservative Islamic monarchy.

Read more: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/saudi-police-in-show-of-force-to-prevent-protests-20110311-1brlp.html

[ixion]

1. When the House of Saud falls, it's going to make Libya look like a garden party

seriously.