1 killed, another injured amid clashes in Saudi's Qatif: Local source
Protester Ali Omran al-Dawood was killed when security forces surrounded a group of youths burning tyres, source tells MEE
Protesters march in condemnation of the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Awamiya on 3 January 2016 (MEE)
Published date: 4 January 2016 07:54 GMT
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Last update: 8 years 3 months ago
A protester was killed and another was injured in the village of Awamiya in Saudi Arabia's northeastern Qatif region when police confronted demonstrators on Sunday, local sources told Middle East Eye.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, a source on the ground said that following a protest march against the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, one person was killed in clashes between police and local youths.
Security forces had surrounded a group of young Saudis who were burning tyres, leading to the clashes. An eight-year-old boy was also injured in the showdown, the source said.
The dead protester was identified as Ali Omran al-Dawood.
The clashes came as Saudi Arabia announced that it had cut diplomatic ties with Iran following the torching of Saudi's Tehran embassy by Iranian protesters.
Earlier protests in Qatif against Nimr's execution drew several hundred people out on Saturday afternoon, but the demonstrations ended quickly, with Saudi security forces - including hundreds of armoured cars - maintaining a heavy presence.
The Qatif region is located in Saudi's Eastern Province, home to the country's Shia minority.
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