RIYADH: A Shia man was shot dead late on Friday in Qatif district of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The shooting brings to 19 the death toll since early 2011 during protests by Shias demanding equal rights with the Sunni majority, and in clashes with police in the towns and villages around Qatif. Shia activists said the 19-year-old was shot in his car by a stray bullet fired by police when they fired at another person on a motorbike. An Eastern Province police spokesman said in a statement carried on state media that he was shot when they exchanged fire with unknown gunmen, adding he was found in his car at dawn yesterday but was dead before reaching hospital. Reuters
