DUBAI, Jun 27, 2012 (AFP) - Bahrain has paid out $2.6 million in compensation to the families of 17 of the dead that in last year's bloody crackdown on Shiite-led pro-democracy protests, a government statement said.
It was the first time the authorities had paid compensation for those who perished when the security forces crushed the February-March 2011 protests, leaving 35 people dead, according to an independent inquiry.
The Tuesday statement said the compensation payments came in response to a recommendation by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, set up by King Hamad to probe allegations of government wrong-doing and excessive use of force by the security forces.
"Acting upon recommendations in the (BICI) report ... (the government) announced the disbursement of $2.6 million to the families of 17 deceased individuals," the statement said, adding that the "average payout came to just under $153,000 per family."
The payouts were ordered by King Hamad himself and were aimed at addressing "grievances ... caused by recent unrest," the statement said.
It added that other potential recipients of compensation include families of individuals who "suffered physical injury and any other cases deemed appropriate by the justice ministry."
Protests have intensified in villages around the capital since the March 2011 crackdown.
Amnesty says 60 people have been killed since the protests erupted in February 2011 in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty.
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