Three Bahraini taxi drivers, two of them brothers, were injured when they were assaulted by a group of men in Adliya early yesterday. Hussain Mohammed Jaffer, aged 31, his brother Jaffer, 27, and Habib Mansoor Ali, 32, were all treated at Salmaniya Medical Complex. Three men, reportedly US servicemen, were arrested after being chased, caught and handed over to police by passers-by. The incident happened at around 1.50am, at a taxi rank near the Al Bustan Hotel. Hussain was just pulling into the rank as two men began brawling with each other. As he pulled up, one of them turned and punched him through his open car window. Jaffer, who was parked on the rank, went to his brother's aid with other drivers and they were attacked by several other men, all thought to be Americans. Hussain said that about 15 men were involved in the attack, all of whom apparently came out of a nearby club. "The other taxi drivers rushed to help me out after I was attacked, but as they tried to move the man who hit me away from me, his friends came and attacked us," he said. Passers-by intervened to break-up the fight and called the police. Three of the attackers fled into nearby buildings but were chased and caught by passers-by and other taxi drivers, who turned them over to police. Jaffer said that this was not the first time taxi drivers had been attacked in the area. "Just six months ago another taxi driver was attacked here by a group of US servicemen," he said. "On top of the injuries we suffered who will pay for the damages to our cars and the time we spend out of work." Taxi drivers asked for more police patrols in the area and tougher laws to protect them from similar attacks. Hussain, who was working the rank for the first time yesterday, suffered, cuts and bruises to his face, bruising to his right arm and had his glasses broken. Jaffer suffered cuts and bruises to his face and back, while Habib suffered similar injuries to his right arm and leg. They were all released after treatment at the SMC. US military police were later seen going into the Hoora police station, where police took three of the alleged attackers. US military officials were not available to comment. Police are reportedly investigating the incident. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Bahraini taxi drives were beaten by US soldiers, 17.08.2003 (Photo by Gulf Daily News)