Pearl Roundabout, Bahrain’s Tahrir Square · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Following the burial of the first protestor Ali Mushaima, who died after clashes with riot police on Monday 14 February, 2011, hundreds of Bahraini protesters headed towards Pearl Roundabout (also known as Lulu Roundabout) in the centre of the capital, Manama. Up until the time of writing (around 5:30pm Bahrain time), the protestors had experienced no heavy-handedness at the hands of the riot police.
The following is a timeline of the events at Lulu roundabout:
@dairy71 :الان لحظة الوصول لميدان اللؤلؤة
@Khalil_Bohazza ​Thousand of young people took control of Lulu Roundabout. Police withdraw.
@donamurad: Pearl Roundabout RIGHT now!!!
Birds eye view from Abraj Lulu Towers by the Roundabout at 3pm
@ba7ari Crowds using Pearl roundabout just like egyptian Tahrir square#Bahrain #Feb14 #HRW #EU http://twitpic.com/4038dc
First tent erected at Pearl Roundabout at around 4pm Bahrain local time. @yslaise: FROM FACEBOOK: First tent in Pearl Roundabout #Feb14 #Bahrain http://twitpic.com/403h1a
@ehsankooheji: الله يحفظ البحرين و الله يحفظ المتظاهرين و الله يحفظ حكومتنا و يرجع حقوق المظلومين
After a short time, some protesters started to spray paint and vandalise the Pearl Monument in the middle of Lulu Roundabout, causing some Bahraini tweeps to express anger:
@RshRsho: 5 minutes you’re there and vandalism start! #Fail #Feb14 #Bahrain http://t.co/iLWS14t
Graffiti on Pearl Monument, Lulu Roundabout, Bahrain. Upper text reads: Allah created Man to live", lower text reads: "The People want to topple the regime". Image from Plixi user Jalal Aljazeeri.
@mkalkhalifa: You can protest all you want …. But don't vandalise monuments
At the time of writing, people are peacefully protesting at the Lulu Roundabout, one of the largest and most iconic public spaces in Bahrain.
@emoodz: People walking around with trashbags collecting trash, others distributing water.. Mood still calm.. #bahrain #feb14 #luluroundabout
@Khaleejia: The beauty of our democracy :) http://plixi.com/p/77589170
Image courtesy of @JTheIslander
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.