23 Oct parliamentary elections held with relatively high 67% turnout despite govt clampdown. Biggest Shiite bloc Al Wefaq retained all 18 seats they contested; remaining 22 seats won by pro-govt and Sunni candidates, including 9 decided in 30 Oct second round. Sheik Ali Salman, leader of Al Wefaq, 24 Oct alleged at least 2,000 voters blocked from casting ballots, but will not challenge election result. Trial began 28 Oct of 23 Shiite activists arrested during pre-election crackdown and charged with terrorism, conspiring against govt.

Public prosecution 5 Sept announced terrorism charges against 23 Shia activists including head of Haq opposition movement; opposition accuse govt of intimidation ahead of Oct parliamentary elections. Explosion 14 Sept in capital Manama targeting security officials: no casualties, but marked escalation in continuing clashes between Shiite dissidents, Sunni govt. Official media 7 Sept reported govt decision to reassert state control over mosques.

Ongoing security crackdown ahead of 23 Oct parliamentary   elections;   230   people   reported   arrested, including Shiite opposition leader Abduljalil al-Singace, charged 30 Aug with attempting to overthrow  govt;  govt said detainees arrested for security and terrorism violations, not for expressing dissident political views. Arrests fuelled almost daily sectarian clashes between security forces and Shiite opposition. Public prosecutor 27 Aug banned media from reporting on detentions. Sheik Ali Salman head of Wefaq society, largest Shiite bloc in parliament, 21 Aug said crackdown had “in one week destroyed 10 years of progress”. Second largest opposition party Islamic Action Society 25 Aug voted to boycott Oct parliamentary elections, called for reform of country’s political system.

Main Shiite parliamentary bloc al-Wefaq criticised by Sunni groups over 4 March call for cabinet to be appointed by parliament instead of king. Youth arrested for 16 March attempted bomb attack on UK embassy; attack followed public campaign against UK ambassador for meeting al-Wefaq leaders.

King pardoned 178 Shiites detained on security charges 11 Apr, including leading rights activists accused of anti-regime plot; protests against trial caused recurring unrest in preceding weeks.

Clashes between security forces and protesters at 6 March demonstration against govt seizure of coast used by fishermen. 22 Shiites arrested Dec, including leading activists, in court 24 March on charges of plotting against state.

Trial of 35 accused of plot to overthrow state, including leading Shiite rights activists, began 23 Feb. Shiites demonstrated in Manama 20 Dec to call for activists’ release. Police patrol attacked with firebombs by mob in Shiite village 27 Feb.

Arrest of 3 leading Shiite rights activists 26 Jan on charges of anti-regime incitement sparked clashes between police and youths in Shiite villages. Further riots 30 Jan followed Shiite demonstration protesting “biased” citizenship law.

Authorities arrested 14 suspects, all reportedly Shiite, for planning bomb attacks on 17 Dec national day celebrations. Human rights lawyers condemned televised confessions. Police and youths reportedly clashed in Shiite villages near capital Manama.