Bahrain: Pearl Square monument destroyed

Bahrain's Pearl Monument, a landmark that acted as a backdrop to widespread coverage recent massive anti-government protests, has been demolished by the government, according to reports.

The news came as thousands of Bahrainis gathered in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, Friday to bury Ahmed Farhan, a protester killed in a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.

At least five people were killed by security forces this week in Manama's Pearl Square, which has been a rallying point for protesters. Their deaths came hours after the government declared a three-month state of emergency this week to try to end the protests.

The state of emergency gives the government forces wide powers to battle the monthlong uprising. Bahrain's Shiite opposition has promised to keep up peaceful protests despite the government's use of force.

The monument near Pearl Square consisted of six curved white beams that met at the top to hold a white sphere, or "pearl." CNN reported that pieces of the modern white structure lay scattered Friday in the center of the Pearl roundabout, mentioning pictures broadcast on Bahrain state television.

The government said the demolition was "out of the government's keenness to optimize services and improve the infrastructure" and that it would "boost flow of traffic in this vital area of the capital," according to the state-run Bahrain News Agency.

CNBC reported that the entire area had been excavated, with diggers cutting away at the six bases of the statue for hours before it collapsed. Trucks took  away the debris. Bahrain TV reportedly began referring to the area as the "GCC roundabout" earlier this week, when Bahrain security forces backed by Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council troops cleared the area of protestors and their encampment.