Bahrain police charged with torturing protest doctors

Fifteen Bahrain policemen will be charged with torturing doctors held during the Shiite-led protests last year, Bahrain's chief prosecutor said yesterday.

The charges were being brought following an inquiry launched after a complaint was filed by doctors at Salmaniya hospital, the main medical facility in the capital Manama.

"This procedure confirms the intention of the Bahrain government to bring to account all those found guilty of human rights violations and to recompense the victimsNawaf Hamza, the chief investigator in the prosecutor's office, said.

The complainants had said they were badly treated in detention. Some of them underwent medical examination during the inquiry.

The 15 doctors and five staff at Salmaniya had been accused by the authorities of supporting the opposition during the protests.

Bahrain came under strong criticism from human rights organisations over last year's security operation against the protests.

An international panel commissioned by King Hamad found out that excessive force and torture had been used against protesters and detainees.

Amnesty International says 60 people have been killed since the protests began in February last year.