Bahraini woman killed due to poisonous tear gas

07 April 2012 | 00:41 Code : 1899713 Latest Headlines
 Poisonous tear gas used by Saudi-backed Bahraini forces against anti-government protesters has killed another civilian, Press TV reports.


The victim, identified as Khadija, died on Friday almost a month after a tear gas canister hit her home during an overnight attack by regime forces. 

According to Bahraini activists, she had been in hospital since early March but failed to recover. 

Her death comes a week after regime forces shot dead a young anti-government protester in the village of Salmabad. 

Bahraini troops heavily rely on tear gas and stun grenades to disperse peaceful anti-government protesters. Several Bahraini civilians, mostly senior citizens and kids, have died from asphyxia after regime troops fired tear gas in residential areas and into homes in violation of international standards that Bahrain is a signatory to. 

Amnesty International has warned about the Bahraini government's misuse of tear gas against anti-regime protesters and has called for an investigation into the tear gas-related deaths. 

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests. 

Scores of people have also been killed and many others have been injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain. 

Bahraini demonstrators hold King Hamad Al Khalifa responsible for the killings during the popular uprising in the country.