(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Several opposition leaders and activists have been arrested in Bahrain following a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in the tiny Gulf kingdom, reports say.
Among of 6 arrested were Hassan Mushaima, who had returned last month from self-imposed exile to the UK after the Bahraini authorities dropped charges against him, and Ibrahim Sharif, head of the Waad political society, a secular group comprising mostly Sunni members.
Hassan Musheima, leader of the formerly-outlawed al Haq party, tells Al Jazeera before being caught, from Manama:
"[Bahraini security forces] should stop killing people. The US especially knows that the people are struggling for democracy in a peaceful way. All the journalists came and saw the people protesting peacefully, and they did not try to use any weapons ... and they were only throwing roses."
Also taken into custody on early on Thursday was Abduljalil al-Singace, a leader of the Haq movement, who was jailed last August but was freed in late February as part of concessions by the Khalifa royal family to protesters.
Al Jazeera's correspondent, reporting from the capital Manama, said "a crackdown is under way of the main voices here".
"Significant members of the opposition were arrested overnight, including some prominent activists. Soldiers broke into the houses of these figures early in the morning and made these arrests."
The arrests were made hours after security forces swooped down on the Pearl Roundabout in the centre of the capital and dispersed pro-democracy protesters camped there.
At least six people, including three policemen, were killed and more than 1,000 others injured in clashes that ensued during Wednesday's assault.
A curfew was imposed in areas of the city following the crackdown.
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