MANAMA (AFP)-UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned Bahrain, his sentence on anti-government protesters violating international law after his human rights chief spoke of the "shocking and illegal" abuse.
Ban called King Hamad on Thursday to express his "deep concern" about the use of force, which allegedly includes security forces preventing doctors from treating wounded demonstrators in the small Gulf State.
The Secretary general "expressed its deepest concern at reports of excessive and indiscriminate use of force by security forces and police in Bahrain against unarmed civilians, including allegedly against medical personnel," said a UN statement.
He also noted "that such actions could be in conflict with international humanitarian and human rights law."
UN Chief spoke out after a bloody penalty on the Shiite-led demonstrators from the U.S.-backed Sunni Muslim rulers. Bahrain is home to the US fifth fleet.
Violence in the strategic Kingdom has alarmed Washington and triggered fierce condemnation from Iran, Shiite leaders in Iraq and Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Valerie Amos, the UN Deputy Secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs, earlier called on the security forces "to refrain from the excessive use of force, and to respect medical facilities and to ensure the treatment of wounded people."
UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay earlier Thursday said the possible adoption of the security forces of hospitals and medical facilities was a "flagrant violation of international law."
"There are reports of arbitrary arrests, killings, beatings of demonstrators and medical personnel and the acquisition of hospitals and medical centres of various security forces," she said.
"This is shocking and illegal behaviour."
Dissidents had been rounded up at gunpoint in midnight raids and armed police stood outside the Manamas main hospital on Thursday, the text wrapping feature reports authorities were marketing plan doctors and refuse treatment to the wounded.
Unbowed, pledged to press on with "peaceful" demonstrations in the Shiite-led opposition undaunted by the deadly military force against them.
"We will not give to the army," said the Shiite cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al-Wefaq association. "We insist on the peaceful aspect of our activities, and we should not be dragged into ... confrontations.
The opposition called for fresh protests "in the areas of praying" rather than out on the streets after Muslim weekly prayers Friday and occupations on Saturday.
Fresh clashes broke out in at least one Shiite village outside the capital after five people were killed on Wednesday when security forces crushed a month-old pro-democracy its-in on Manama's Pearl Square.
Five hardline Shiite activists and one Sunni dissident was arrested after the army imposed a curfew on parts of Manama by using its powers in accordance with the newly introduced a State of emergency, opposition sources said.
Bahrain military confirmed it had arrested a number of people for crimes including rebellion, murder, and contact with foreign States, but gave no details.
Opposition MP Khalil al-Marzouk said that doctor Ali al-Ekri, who had been accused on State TELEVISION of spreading "fabrications" about the conditions at the Salmaniya hospital, who were arrested on Thursday.
Security forces shooting teargas and shotguns cleared out a pro-democracy tent city on Pearl Square Wednesday in the worst day of violence since activists took to the streets last month.
The opposition said three demonstrators were killed in the attack, while the Government said two police died in hit-and-run attacks from the opposition drivers.
U.S. President Barack Obama, whose country is a close ally of Bahrain, called King Hamad to express "deep concern," while British Prime minister David Cameron urged the monarch to pursue "reform, not oppression."
The main opposition calls for a constitutional monarchy, the resignation of the Government and an end to repression in Bahrain.
King Hamad declared a three-month State of emergency on Tuesday, a day after more than 1,000 armored troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain to restore security.
The sectarian tension have given rise to fears among the Bahrain's the Sunni-led Arab neighbors, Iran, Shiite power, a short boat ride away across the Gulf of Aden, is trying to create unrest in the Kingdom.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the situation in Bahrain "worrying" and criticised Washington's Gulf State allies of heading down "the wrong track" military intervention.
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