Canada issues strong travel warnings over Middle East unrest

Civil unrest and the potential for terror attacks in Bahrain and Libya has led the Canadian government to warn against all non-essential travel to those countries.

In Bahrain, riot police retreated from the main centre of protest in Manama — Pearl Square — which paved the way for thousands of antigovernment protesters to streamed back into their former stronghold.

The crowds had approached Pearl Square from different directions and stood facing riot police for half an hour. All of a sudden police ran to their buses and retreated.

The protesters, cheering and waving flags, ran to the centre of the traffic circle, reoccupying it even before all the police had left. The crowd waved the fleeing policemen through. Police vehicles drove over pavements in their haste to get out.

"We don’t fear death any more, let the army come and kill us to show the world what kind of savages they are," said Umm Mohammed, a teacher wearing a black abaya cloak.

Troops in tanks and armoured vehicles earlier withdrew from the square, which they had taken over on Thursday after riot police attacked protesters who had camped out there, killing four people and wounding 231.

In Libya on Saturday, mourners were burying some of the dozens of protesters who were shot and killed by security personnel during violent unrest in that nation.

Human Rights Watch said 35 people were killed in Benghazi late on Friday, adding to dozens who had already died in a fierce crackdown on three days of protests inspired by uprisings in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia. The New York-based group said it now estimates 84 people have been killed over three days of demonstrations.

Friday’s deaths happened when security forces opened fire on people protesting after funeral processions for victims of earlier violence, the group said.

The government, led by Muammar Gaddafi, has not released any casualty figures, nor made any official comment on the violence.

In Algeria, police in riot gear surrounded hundreds of protesters trying to stage a march through the capital inspired by uprisings in other parts of the Arab world.

Unrest in Algeria could have implications for the world economy since it is a major oil and gas exporter, but analysts say an Egypt-style revolt is unlikely because the government can use its energy wealth to calm most grievances.

The protest was organized by human rights groups, some trade unionists and a small opposition party. Algeria’s main opposition forces, however, were not taking part.

Canadian traveller in Algeria are advised by the government to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the demonstrations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also has a warning in place for Canadians to avoid all travel to Yemen. The risks “due to terrorism, tribal violence and clashes between government forces and rebel groups” have made it hazardous for foreigners in that country, the federal department said.

With files from Reuters

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