Bahraini protesters shout slogans during an anti-regime protest in the village of al-Musalla, west of Manama, on September 13, 2013.
Bahrainis have staged a fresh anti-regime protest rally near Manama despite threats by authorities to take legal action against demonstrators.
The rally was held in the village of Musalla, west of Manama, on Friday in response to a call by Bahrain™s main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq.
Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. There were no reports of arrest.
Bahrain™s Interior Ministry had threatened to take legal action against anyone who takes part in Friday protests.
“Legal action will be taken against any participant in the rally planned by political associations, for flouting the law,” said Bahrain™s Public Security Chief Tariq Hassan Al-Hassan on Thursday.
Hassan further said the Bahraini Interior Ministry has banned the Friday protest, claiming that the demonstration has nothing to do with exercising the freedom of expression, as guaranteed by law.
Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.
Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since the popular uprising in Bahrain began.
Protesters say they will continue holding anti-regime demonstrations until their demand for the establishment of a democratically-elected government and an end to rights violations are met.
HM/KA
Copyright: Press TV