More than 1,000 mourn 19 Ariz. firefighters

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — More than 1,000 people turned out Monday to a Prescott gymnasium to honor the bravery and sacrifice of 19 Hotshot firefighters who died battling a wildfire in Arizona.

Those in the crowd rocked children in their arms, wiped away tears and applauded robustly after each set of remarks, often rising to their feet. Speakers at the memorial quoted heavily from Scripture.

U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said the Hotshots laid down their lives not only for their friends and loved ones, but for people they didn't even know.

The men died Sunday after the blaze they were battling near the small town of Yarnell, about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix, exploded tenfold in a matter of hours, trapping them.

Authorities say the tragedy all but wiped out the 20-member Granite Mountain Hotshots, a Prescott-based unit.

Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo spoke in a shaky voice and paused frequently as he described throwing a picnic a month ago for his new recruits and meeting their families.

"About five hours ago, I met those same families at an auditorium," he said during the service, held at the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "Those families lost. The Prescott Fire Department lost. The city of Prescott lost. The state of Arizona and the nation lost."

At the end of the ceremony, dozens of wildfire fighters sporting Hotshot shirts and uniforms from other jurisdictions marched down from the top of the bleachers to the front of the gym auditorium, their heavy work boots drumming a march on the wooden steps.

The firefighters bowed their heads for a moment of silence in memory of their fallen comrades as slides bearing each man's name and age were projected behind them.

The 19 killed were Andrew Ashcraft, 29; Kevin Woyjeck, 21; Anthony Rose, 23; Eric Marsh, 43; Christopher MacKenzie, 30; Robert Caldwell, 23; Clayton Whitted , 28; Scott Norris, 28; Dustin Deford, 24; Sean Misner, 26; Garret Zuppiger, 27; Travis Carter, 31; Grant McKee, 21; Travis Turbyfill, 27; Jesse Steed, 36; Wade Parker, 22; Joe Thurston, 32; William Warneke, 25; and John Percin, 24.

Via Yahoo News!

Thousands in Bahrain mourn protesters

NEW: Bahrain's prime minister meets with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-MoonHundreds had marched in Sanabis to mourn the woman, an opposition source saysAbout 1,000 also gathered in Manama to mourn the death of a 63-year-old manBahrain lifted its emergency laws Wednesday, but continues to target opposition

Manama, Bahrain (CNN) -- Thousands of Bahrainis hit the streets again to vent their anger at the Arab nation's government on Friday, an opposition source said, days after the justice ministry warned against "any type of activities that could affect the security or harm the national peace and safety."

Sanabis, just west of the capital, Manama, was the hub of the day's biggest demonstrations. Thousands marched late Friday in the suburb, an opposition source said.

Earlier, about 1,000 people had gathered to mourn Zainab Ali Altajir, a 69-year-old woman who died Thursday after allegedly inhaling tear gas fired by authorities as they clashed with protesters, an opposition figure said.

In a statement on Bahrain's interior ministry website, the government denied that the woman died from tear gas inhalation, saying she had chronic heart disease and died of natural causes.

Later Friday, the opposition source said, about 1,000 demonstrators congregated in Manama to remember Salman Abu Idrees, a 63-year-old who had been missing since mid-March. Images of Idrees' body showed his injuries -- including one that the source said was a rubber bullet in the stomach.

There was no indication whether government forces, including police, confronted or obstructed those demonstrating Friday. Bahraini government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The protests came the same day that Bahrain celebrated the World Motor Sport Council's decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix into the Formula One racing season.

Bahraini and racing officials lauded the return of the race as a sign of reconciliation, though signs that the turmoil is not over remained.

Wednesday's lifting of emergency laws, imposed in mid-March and allowing a crackdown on political leaders and journalists, is thought to be an effort to signal an end to months of unrest stemming from the Arab Spring, a wave of anti-government protests that started in Tunisia and have since roiled several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Since the beginning of the turmoil in Bahrain, about 30 people have been killed, according to figures from the government, opposition figures and human rights groups. Opposition and human rights groups say more than 1,000 have been detained.

Even after the lifting of emergency laws, the government has continued its crackdown on the country's major Shiite political opposition movement.

The kingdom also filed charges against four top opposition leaders in a move that could weaken the country's Wefaq party, according to two opposition sources. This came as King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appealed for dialogue, saying that talks with opposition groups are scheduled to begin in July.

On Friday, Bahrain's longtime prime minister -- Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa -- and Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, according to a statement from the United Nations. The world body's leader called on Bahrain's government "to uphold international human rights norms ... and welcomed the commitment and assurances made by the Crown Prince in this regard."

Ban "welcomed the lifting of emergency laws and the decision ... to call for a national dialogue," the U.N. statement said. "He expressed hope that such a dialogue would be genuine, meaningful and inclusive and respond to the legitimate political, economic and social aspirations of all Bahraini people."

CNN's Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report.

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