Monday, April 16, 2012

Bahraini Embassy roof protester threatens to jump


A protester who has climbed on to the roof of the Bahraini Embassy in central London has threatened to jump.
Moosa Satrawi is highlighting the imprisonment and treatment of prominent human rights activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Hasan Mushaima, the leader of a banned political party in Bahrain.
Mr Mushaima's son, Ali Mushaima, is also on the roof.
The Metropolitan police said officers were at the embassy in Belgrave Square, which has been closed.
Mr Satrawi, 30, told the BBC: "I'm not going down until I hear Mr al-Khawaja call me or Mr Mushaima.
"Otherwise I will jump myself from the roof."
He added that protesters have no food or water with them.
Mr al-Khawaja is in the third month of a hunger strike and was moved to a military hospital amid concerns that he was close to death.
Mr Mushaima suffers from cancer and his supporters say that authorities are withholding treatment.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We were called at 13:35 BST with reports of two protesters on the roof of the Bahrain embassy in Belgrave Square.
"Officers are in attendance and road closures are in place."
The embassy said the situation was being handled by the police.
The protest comes days before Bahrain is due to host its most high-profile international event, the Formula One Grand Prix.

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