Five bombs exploded in the heart of the Bahraini capital Manama on Monday, killing two Asian street cleaners, officials said, and prompting mutual accusations from activists and a government trying to put down a mostly Shia pro-democracy uprising. The Interior Ministry said the bombs were homemade and described the blasts as "terrorist acts" - its term for violence by opposition activists.
The explosions took place between 4:30 and 9:30 am (0130-0630 GMT) in the Qudaibiya and Adliya districts of Manama, the BNA agency said, citing a police official. One of the attacks took place outside a cinema.