Bahrain Protesters March On Palace

Antigovernment protest earlier this month in front of the US embassy in Manama.

Tens of thousands of protesters in Bahrain are marching on a royal palace in the capital Manama today, a day after clashes with police injured dozens of activists.

The new march comes as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visits Bahrain on a mission to encourage dialogue between the mostly Shi'ite protesters and the Sunni monarchy.

Security forces reinforced by pro-government Sunni vigilantes fired rubber bullets and tear gas late on March 11 to scatter protesters.

compiled from agency reports