The Bahraini appeals court has refused
a request to release
the 13 opposition leaders who are mostly Shiites, some of
whom are sentenced to life in prison.
The Court of Cassation
held its first meeting today to consider this
issue in the absence of the
detainees, and with attendance limited to
the defense, a number
of relatives, activists and representatives of
some foreign embassies
in Bahrain.
Lawyers told AFP that
the court would issue its final verdict on the
7th of January.