Bahrainis Protest 'Sectarian Discrimination'

Thousands of Bahrainis, mainly from the Shiite majority, demonstrated near Manama Friday against what they described as "sectarian discrimination" in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

"No to discrimination," chanted protesters brandishing Bahrain's red-and-white flag as they marched along Budaiya main road, which links Shiite villages with the capital, witnesses said.

Ali Salman, chief cleric of the main Shiite formation Al-Wefaq was among leaders of the opposition who participated, according to images the group posted online.

They carried posters of prominent opponents jailed over their roles in the short-lived uprising of February 2011, including the Sunni head of the secular Waed party, Ibrahim Sharif, who is serving a five-year sentence.

"Sectarian discrimination is eating into the body of Bahrain in a systematic way applied by authorities," opposition groups said in a statement at the end of the demonstration, referring to the Al-Khalifa dynasty.

The protest was held on the occasion of the U.N.'s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Bahrain remains deeply divided three years after authorities quashed a Shiite-led uprising, with regular protests sparking clashes with police, scores of Shiites jailed on "terror" charges and reconciliation talks deadlocked.