Bahrain police drive back protesters

MANAMA, Bahrain - Riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets stormed a landmark square occupied by anti-government protesters Thursday, driving out demonstrators and destroying a makeshift encampment that had become the hub for demands for sweeping political changes in the kingdom.

The main opposition group Al Wefaq said at least two people were killed in the pre-dawn attack on Pearl Square. Police regained control of the square, but continued to chase protesters through side streets. Protesters chanted slogans aimed to wipe away the entire ruling dynasty.

Elsewhere in the region:

LIBYA. The widening challenges to the Arab world's political order flared in Libya for the first time, with riot police battling protesters marching against the 42-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi.

YEMEN. The embattled president flooded the ancient capital of Sanaa with security forces to try to stamp out demonstrations that began nearly a week ago. They turned deadly Wednesday in the port of Aden, with two people killed in clashes with police.

EGYPT. The new military rulers came under criticism Wednesday for what youth and women's groups say is a failure to make decisions openly and include a larger segment of society. Five days after ousting Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians continued protests and strikes over a host of grievances.

DJIBOUTI. Opposition parties in this Horn of Africa nation that hosts the only U.S. military base on the continent plan to demand the resignation of President Ismail Guelleh in a protest scheduled tomorrow. Ismail Guedi Hared, president of the Union for a Democratic Alternative, said the coalition represents at least three opposition parties. "They are angry," he said. "The people will say we want the president to leave."

TUNISIA. Security forces loyal to the former president unleashed a wave of terror on the population during the uprising that toppled Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month, with protesters raped and robbed, a women's group said Wednesday. The Association of Tunisian Democratic Women reported on a probe that took a panel of professional women to four cities in the interior. A UN mission has said at least 219 people were killed in the weeks of unrest, including dozens who died in prison fires.