Persian Gulf unrest since Mubarak's exit

Over the past week protests by citizens of the countries of Bahrain, Libya, Iran and Yemen against their governments have been spurred on by the recent exit of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

Many of the citizens of countries in the Persian Gulf region have seen the government changes in Tunisia and Egypt as victories by the protestors over oppressive regimes and are giving them hope that they can do the same.

According to the Los Angeles Times on February 14, Street clashes in Iran, Bahrain and Yemen were met by riot police as authorities in the conservative nations sought to squelch demands for greater political freedom, better jobs and an end to corruption.

The BBC News reported on February 19 that at least 15 people were killed and many more wounded as violence has been reported in Benghazi, Libya as troops opened fire on anti-government protestors.

USA Today reported on Friday that after two straight days of protests in Manama, Bahrain thousands of jubilant protestors started to stream back into

Pearl Square

in the city’s center after the government leaders withdrew the tanks and the riot police.

In my opinion the unrest that is occurring is cause for concern by virtually all the democracies in the world because of the uncertainty of how these countries will be governed when the protests are over.