February 14 Live Blog

Bahraini police detained two Western activists who had joined a women's protest on Friday, after clashing overnight with protesters in Shia districts of the Gulf Arab state.

The two women activists - one American, one British, according to protesters - were detained by riot police who broke up the protest with teargas and stun grenades, after an announcement on a police loudspeaker that the demonstration was illegal.

Riot police have maintained a heavier presence than usual in areas populated by majority Shia this week to prevent mass protests on the anniversary of the February 14 pro-democracy uprising last year which was put down by force.

"These women are protesting peacefully," shouted a woman identified by protesters as US activist Medea Benjamin, wearing a T-shirt that read "Unarmed civilian", as she was dragged away by women police.

A Bahraini woman choking from teargas was also dragged away.  Protesters identified the second detained foreign activist as Briton Elaine Martha.

- Reuters