Bahraini security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters, witnesses and opposition activists say. The protesters were fired on after they had streamed towards Pearl Square, the centre of recent unrest, from the funerals of protesters killed in a security crackdown earlier this week. Witnesses said the army fired weaponry and tear gas, and hospital officials said at least 20 people had been hurt. Many of the protesters are calling for the overthrow of the royal family. Bahrain's crown prince promised on Friday to start a national dialogue once calm has been restored, according to AFP news agency. Emotional prayers Witnesses told AP news agency that soldiers had fired anti-aircraft guns over the heads of the protesters, as well as tear gas. Opposition politician Jalal Firooz told Reuters that the demonstrators were heading for Pearl Square, which has been sealed off by the army for the past day. He said troops opened fire on them, adding: "There are many casualties, some are critical." Hospital officials told AP at least 20 people were wounded, but other reports had much higher casualty figures. Bahrain is ruled by a royal family and a Sunni Muslim elite, but has a Shia majority who make up the bulk of the protesters. Earlier, the country's most senior Shia cleric Sheikh Issa Qassem described attacks on protesters as a "massacre" and said the government had shut the door to dialogue. As he spoke at emotionally charged Friday prayers in the Duraz neighbourhood, supporters shouted "victory for Islam", "death for Al Khalifa [the ruling family]" and "we are your soldiers". Western countries have urged Bahrain to show restraint in dealing with protesters and called for meaningful reform in the small Gulf state kingdom. Source: BBC