Yesterday, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa announced a human rights inquiry into crackdowns on protestors. Human rights violations would not be tolerated, he claimed.

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa announced the move in a speech at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting Wednesday, saying such violations would not be tolerated, BNA reported.

[snip]

The king said the new five-member commission, which is expected to report its findings by the end of October, would be headed by law professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, a United Nations war crimes expert.

“Any person, whether acting on behalf of the government or any other capacity should be aware that we have not given up on our principles and would not tolerate any human rights violations,” the king told the Cabinet, according to BNA.

“Such acts do not help anyone, but hurt everyone.”

King Hamad also issued a royal decree Wednesday ordering that suspected protesters facing military trial be transferred to criminal courts, and opened the door for fresh appeals, BNA reported.

Here’s what is going on today, as chronicled by Angry Arabiya.

Hamad our reply to ur speech… DOWN DOWN HAMAD!!!!! #Bahrain

Out riot police in front of us. We’re walkin towards them

Suffocatin from tear gas…

Every askin for pepsi. Our faces burning

We’re all women here, maybe 20-25, they’re attacking

They beat up a aguy and are taking him, the women shouting “leave our brothers”

Sound bomb just passed by my frnds head!

These are the houses some bahrainis live in! #Bahrainhttp://yfrog.com/kkjn4fwj

Helicopters above us now

Ppl still honking “down down Hamad” #Bahrain

Riot police retreated, covered my mouth with my sheila, walkin again. #Bahrain

Tear gas again….

Wat a great ppl, every1 has their doors open. Every1 welcoming us in2 their homes, trying to protect us.

Running into some of my bravest frnds, havnt seen them since the glorious days of pearl roundabout. #Bahrain

We’re unarmed, shouting slogans. They’re all armed, shooting at us constantly. Waving to us to go closer to them #Bahrain

Sound bomb is direct translation from arabic, some1 tells me they’re called stun grenade in english..

Heading to the street again, boys infront of us. Shouting “down down Hamad” #Bahrain

“Ur prisons are full of innocent souls” #Bahrainhttp://yfrog.com/kes6cqtj

We’re safe. Its time 4 prayer. My brave frnds who r not afraid of the riot police just saw a lizard and freaked out lol #Bahrain

I guess it’s not surprising that a close ally of the US might think dropping tear gas, like freedom bombs, are a good way to support human rights.