RIYADH, May 22: The king of Bahrain has sacked his interior minister after clashes broke out on Friday between police and angry protesters demonstrating against the presence of US-led forces in Iraq.

The demonstration was depicting the anger raging among theShias on the fighting in Najaf and Karbala.

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa replaced Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa al-Khalifa with another member of the royal family, Rashid bin Abd Allah bin Ahmad al-Khalifa.

"We share the anger of our people over the oppression and aggression taking place in Palestine and in the holy shrines (in Iraq). People had a right to peaceful protests. We are investigating," the agency quoted the king as saying.

Police earlier clashed with thousands of angry demonstrators in the capital, Manama. More than 20 people were hurt, including Jawad Firuz, a Shia opposition activist and member of Manama city council.