They came prepared.<br/> <br />Anti-government protesters in the Bahraini village of Diraz clashed with riot police Thursday.<br/> <br />The clashes, west of the capital Manama, reportedly erupted after a mourning procession for a man who died earlier in the week, although details remain unclear.<br/> <br />Commercial shops in the area closed after protest organisers gave them advance notice of the demonstration.<br/> <br />Protesters used makeshift nail guns made out of fire extinguishers.<br/> <br />Both sides also exchanged tear gas and molotov cocktails in a skirmish along a main street in the village.<br/> <br />One policeman was reportedly hurt.<br/> <br />Bahrain has been in turmoil since pro-democracy unrest erupted in 2011, inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.<br/> <br />The protests are led mainly by Shi'ite Muslim groups demanding political reforms and equality with the Sunni Muslim minority.
