By ARAB NEWS

MANAMA: The Bahraini authorities announced on Thursday that five police officers would face trial next month over the death by torture of two detainees linked to anti-regime protests earlier this year.

Nawaf Abdullah Hamza the Public Prosecution was quoted by the state news agency BNA that after examining allegations by the Interior Ministry of cases of torture and ill treatment, his office had decided to refer one case to the criminal court.

Five police officers have been implicated in the case, he said, adding that “two are accused of having beaten to death two of the detainees, and the three others are accused of failing to report the case.” He said the trial would start on Jan. 11.

A special commission appointed to probe the crackdown on the month-long anti-government protests that erupted in March published a report last month denouncing the “excessive and unjustified use of force” by the authorities.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced a policy of “zero tolerance” toward any abuse of political detainees, in line with the recommendations of the probe.

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Note by the editor: A step in the right direction, still a small one though …