(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Bahrain police have summoned the head of the main opposition group al-Wefaq for questioning on Sunday, a source at the interior ministry said on Saturday, Reuters reported.
The ministry source had no details of what the questioning of Wefaq Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman was about.
According to AFP, the summons was delivered to Ali Salman's house in the morning, the opposition Al-Wefaq association said in a statement, adding it was not clear why he was being called in for questioning.
Wefaq's website confirmed the summons but said the reasons had not been revealed. "It is believed to be part of the political blackmail and revenge against the peaceful opposition that is asking for democracy," it said in a statement.
The summons comes just over a week after Al-Wefaq's leading figure Khalil Marzooq was released from jail at the opening of his trial for inciting terrorism.
His arrest prompted Wefaq to suspend its participation in talks with the government aimed at ending continued opposition protests in the small Persian Gulf Arab island state.
Bahraini authorities also shut and dismantled an exhibition on anti-government protests staged by Wefaq on Wednesday, saying it violated the law and incited hatred.
Talks between the government and its opponents began in February but have failed to resolve the political crisis, with the two sides still mistrustful and apparently far apart on the opposition's main demand for an elected government.
Wefaq, which says it advocates non-violent methods, demands a constitutional monarchy with a government chosen from within a democratically elected parliament.
Unrest has dogged Bahrain, a Western ally which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, since the 2011 uprising by people demanding reforms and more share in running the kingdom ruled by the al-Khalifa dynasty.
The revolt was put down with the help of Saudi intervention but protests later resumed and remain frequent.
At least 116 people have been killed in Bahrain since began of uprising according to Ahlul Bayt News Agency.
/129
The ministry source had no details of what the questioning of Wefaq Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman was about.
According to AFP, the summons was delivered to Ali Salman's house in the morning, the opposition Al-Wefaq association said in a statement, adding it was not clear why he was being called in for questioning.
Wefaq's website confirmed the summons but said the reasons had not been revealed. "It is believed to be part of the political blackmail and revenge against the peaceful opposition that is asking for democracy," it said in a statement.
The summons comes just over a week after Al-Wefaq's leading figure Khalil Marzooq was released from jail at the opening of his trial for inciting terrorism.
His arrest prompted Wefaq to suspend its participation in talks with the government aimed at ending continued opposition protests in the small Persian Gulf Arab island state.
Bahraini authorities also shut and dismantled an exhibition on anti-government protests staged by Wefaq on Wednesday, saying it violated the law and incited hatred.
Talks between the government and its opponents began in February but have failed to resolve the political crisis, with the two sides still mistrustful and apparently far apart on the opposition's main demand for an elected government.
Wefaq, which says it advocates non-violent methods, demands a constitutional monarchy with a government chosen from within a democratically elected parliament.
Unrest has dogged Bahrain, a Western ally which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, since the 2011 uprising by people demanding reforms and more share in running the kingdom ruled by the al-Khalifa dynasty.
The revolt was put down with the help of Saudi intervention but protests later resumed and remain frequent.
At least 116 people have been killed in Bahrain since began of uprising according to Ahlul Bayt News Agency.
/129