Last house in restive Shiite town center has been demolished
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Saudi authorities say they have demolished the last residential building in the historic center of a restive Shiite town after speeding up the pace of demolitions.
Municipal spokesman Mohammed al-Sufyan said on Wednesday that all 488 homes were demolished in the area of al-Moswara, in the town of al-Awamiya in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. The town is populated by minority Shiites.
Since the demolitions began in mid-May, violence has spiked between Shiite gunmen and security forces, with around two dozen people killed. U.N. rights experts criticized the demolition for erasing the heritage of the area.
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The government says gunmen used al-Moswara's narrow streets as cover and that the old buildings were not safe for residents. The government says it has provided residents with alternative shelter until the area is rebuilt.