'US needs Bahrain against Iran, won't tolerate democracy' [Patrick Henningson © RT]

While rallies in Syria and Egypt draw much of the world's attention - others are slipping into the background. Breaking news from Bahrain's capital - where peaceful protets have turned into ferocious clashes after riot police used tear gas to disperse people in the city center. Security forces attacked demonstrators after they crowded into a main street, in their ongoing calls for greater freedoms and rights for the Shi'ite minority population from the Sunni rulers. Months of demonstrations have seen heavy crackdowns by regime forces. RT talks to geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningson.