MANAMA, Sept 29: Several thousand people demonstrated in Manama on Saturday denouncing what they said were government attempts to rig upcoming elections in favour of the ruling Sunni minority by naturalising foreigners.

The demonstration, which came barely two months before landmark elections, was attended by 10,000 people according to the organisers, who fired tear gas during the largely peaceful event.

The police estimate was 4,000 protestors.

“Naturalisations have recently hit a new high, in particular for Asians, and the objective can only be to influence the results of the upcoming elections,” Ibrahim Sherif of the Association of National Democratic Action told the crowd.

Political parties are banned in Bahrain and Sherif’s association was one of five to organise the protest, which was also attended by religious Shia Muslim dignitaries.—AFP