Peninsula Shield Force
On 15 March, about 1000 people protested in Qatif calling for the Peninsula Shield Force to be withdrawn from Bahrain, where it is being used against Bahraini protesters. A related protest took place in al-Awamiyah. Hundreds of people protested in Qatif and the nearby region on 16 March, calling for the release of prisoners and expressing support for the Bahraini protesters. Anti-riot forces were present at the protests. The Qatif demonstration lasted for about half an hour. Protesters called for the Peninsula Shield Force to be withdrawn from Bahrain. The protests continued the following day, 17 March, in and near Qatif, with similar demands, and about 4000 protesters in Qatif. Police fired rubber bullets and several people were injured. One slogan used in the protests was "Bahrain Free Free. Saudi forces out!". Similar protests took place on Friday 18 March, in Qatif, Omran, al-Awamiyah (about 2500 protesters), Safwa City and al-Rabeeya (1000 protesters each). Ten people in Omran were injured from being hit by police batons. One of the slogans in Qatif was "One people not two people – the people of Qatif and Bahrain!"&lt;/ref&gt;