Bahraini protesters call for the release of political prisoners

       
Thousands of Bahraini demonstrators have staged a protest against the Al Khalifa regime outside the capital, Manama, calling for the release of political prisoners.  
              
Chanting anti-regime slogans, the protesters marched on the Budaiya Highway, west of Manama, on Friday. They also hoisted Bahraini flags as well as anti-regime banners, calling for democracy and freedom.      

The protest had been called by the main opposition Al-Wefaq party as well as other political parties. Al-Wefaq’s Secretary General Ali Salman was also present at the rally.       

On Thursday, Salman said at a press conference that Bahrain’s Interior Ministry had arrested, during the last three months, at least 640 persons on various charges.  

More than 13 opposition leaders are held in prison after being accused of involvement in anti- regime protests.        

In this regard, the regime’s courts gave life sentences to seven of the activists, including activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, and handed down the others jail terms ranging from five to 15 years.         

It is worth noting that thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged, since mid-February 2011, several protests in Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa family to relinquish power.