Protests Banned in Saudi Arabia
U.S. ally and oil-rich Middle East monarchy Saudi Arabia has responded to domestic dissent by slapping a ban on public demonstrations.
U.S. ally and oil-rich Middle East monarchy Saudi Arabia has responded to domestic dissent by slapping a ban on public demonstrations.
Saudi King Abdullah, meantime, announced that the government will dole out $37 billion in citizen benefits, apparently in an attempt to dampen dissent. –JCL
Dig, Root, GrowAl-Jazeera English:
Saudi Arabia has banned all protests and marches following recent anti-government protests in the kingdom’s east, reports say.
State television on Saturday quoted the interior ministry as saying that security forces would use all measures to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order.
The ban on public demonstrations comes amid media reports of a huge mobilisation of Saudi troops in Shia-dominated provinces in order to quell any possible uprising.
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