Bahrain Parliament Accepts Shiite MPs Resignation

Bahrain's parliament voted Tuesday to accept the resignations of the remaining seven Shiite opposition MPs, who had walked out along with 11 others in February in protest against violence.

The parliament announced "accepting the resignation of the remaining members (representing) al-Wefaq Islamic Association in the chamber," BNA state news agency said.

The 18 MPs from the main Shiite political formation in the Shiite-majority kingdom had quit the parliament in February after security forces opened fire at demonstrators demanding political reforms.

In March, other MPs of the 40-member parliament accepted the resignation of 11 of the 18 MPs, while King Hamad announced by-elections to be held on September 24 to replace the resigned MPs.

Security forces in mid-March cracked down on a month-old protest dominated by Shiites who challenged the legitimacy of the rule of the Sunni al-Khalifa dynasty.

Two former MPs, Matar Matar and Jawad Fayruz, were taken away by unknown gunmen earlier this month, according to the opposition, soon after losing parliamentary immunity.

Leaders of other opposition groups are being tried in a special court on charges including attempting to topple the monarchy and forming a terrorist group.

Four Shiites were sentenced to death and three others jailed for life by a military court for the alleged killing of two security men. Another was sentenced to seven years for an attempted murder of policemen during the protests.

Bahrain has come under strong criticism from international human rights organizations for its heavy-handed crackdown.