In response to small protests staged by minority Shiites, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on all marches and protests in the country. In a statement, the interior ministry said security forces would use all measures to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order. Al Jazeera English reports that a "restive" Shia population in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province is up in arms about unemployment, detentions without trial, and other alleged abuses. According to the Independent, 10,000 security personnel are being sent to the region to quash any potential uprising. The BBC reports that police were "authorized by law to take all measures needed against those who try to break the law."
