Bahrain Protests

Three countries have warned their citizens to stay on guard when visiting US cities rocked by sometimes violent protests that erupted after a string of police shootings of black Americans.

Defence lawyers for Bahrain's main Shiite opposition bloc Al-Wefaq withdrew today from court proceedings to dissolve it today in protest at the government's push to accelerate the process.

Police in the Sunni-ruled Gulf state of Bahrain clashed on Sunday with Shiite protesters a day after neighbouring Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Bahrain released at dawn today a Sunni opposition leader who was jailed more than four years for involvement in Shiite-led anti-government protests, his party announced.

A court in Bahrain has handed down sentences of up to life imprisonment against 57 Shiites accused of plotting attacks against police and other targets, state media reported.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Bahrain's opposition has called for protests on today's fourth anniversary of an uprising that deeply divided the key US ally in the worst internal crisis to hit a Gulf Arab state.

Around 150 protesters clashed with Bahraini security forces in the capital Manama on Friday during demonstrations over the detention of a prominent opposition leader, eyewitnesses said.

A bomb blast in a Shiite village in Bahrain, the scene of simmering unrest since anti-government protests were crushed in 2011, has left three policemen slightly wounded, officials said.

A Bahraini court handed down jail sentences of up to 13 years on Tuesday against 13 defendants convicted of attacking police during an anti-government demonstration in 2012, a judicial official said.

Human Rights Watch criticised "failures" in Bahrain's justice system Thursday, saying it severely punishes pro-reform protesters while offering impunity to abusive security personnel.

Protests are expected to greet Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa when he arrives in London on Friday for engagements with Britain's royal family.

A Bahraini opposition protester is trying to overturn immunity from prosecution for Bahrain's Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whom he accuses of involvement in torturing prisoners in the Gulf state.

A defence lawyer says a court in Bahrain has sentenced 13 people to life in prison for attempting to kill a policeman, attacking a police car and taking part in an illegal protest.

More than 65 people have been killed in violence since protests led by the country's Shiite majority began in February 2011

Three countries have warned their citizens to stay on guard when visiting US cities rocked by sometimes violent protests that erupted after a string of police shootings of black Americans.

Defence lawyers for Bahrain's main Shiite opposition bloc Al-Wefaq withdrew today from court proceedings to dissolve it today in protest at the government's push to accelerate the process.

Police in the Sunni-ruled Gulf state of Bahrain clashed on Sunday with Shiite protesters a day after neighbouring Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric.

Bahrain released at dawn today a Sunni opposition leader who was jailed more than four years for involvement in Shiite-led anti-government protests, his party announced.

A court in Bahrain has handed down sentences of up to life imprisonment against 57 Shiites accused of plotting attacks against police and other targets, state media reported.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Bahrain's opposition has called for protests on today's fourth anniversary of an uprising that deeply divided the key US ally in the worst internal crisis to hit a Gulf Arab state.

Around 150 protesters clashed with Bahraini security forces in the capital Manama on Friday during demonstrations over the detention of a prominent opposition leader, eyewitnesses said.

A bomb blast in a Shiite village in Bahrain, the scene of simmering unrest since anti-government protests were crushed in 2011, has left three policemen slightly wounded, officials said.

A Bahraini court handed down jail sentences of up to 13 years on Tuesday against 13 defendants convicted of attacking police during an anti-government demonstration in 2012, a judicial official said.

Human Rights Watch criticised "failures" in Bahrain's justice system Thursday, saying it severely punishes pro-reform protesters while offering impunity to abusive security personnel.

Protests are expected to greet Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa when he arrives in London on Friday for engagements with Britain's royal family.

A Bahraini opposition protester is trying to overturn immunity from prosecution for Bahrain's Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whom he accuses of involvement in torturing prisoners in the Gulf state.

A defence lawyer says a court in Bahrain has sentenced 13 people to life in prison for attempting to kill a policeman, attacking a police car and taking part in an illegal protest.

More than 65 people have been killed in violence since protests led by the country's Shiite majority began in February 2011