Saudi police fired rubber bullets Thursday to disperse at least 200 Shiite protesters in Qatif, a town in the oil-rich Eastern Province, local human rights activists said.
At least three people were injured and are currently being treated at Qatif's hospital, the activists said.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Interior Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Qatif protesters were calling for the release of prisoners held without trial and for political reforms. Some 26 people were arrested after similar protests last week in Qatif and nearby Al-Ahsa, but they were later released.
Protesters were also angered by the arrest of Sheik Tawfiq al-Amer, a Shiite cleric who has also now been released.
Wall Street JournalThe rare violence raised concern about a crackdown ahead of planned protests after Friday prayers in different cities throughout the oil-rich kingdom. Violence there could reverberate through the world's markets because of the importance of Saudi oil exports.
Associated PressIs Saudi Arabia the next to fall ???
if they get to the wells and shut em down the 5 bucks a gal now is gonna look cheap