Bahrain dissolves Shia opposition group
MANAMA,  17 Jul - (ANA) - A court in Bahrain has ordered the Sunni Muslim-ruled country's leading Shia opposition group dissolved and its assets seized, reports say. The ruling follows last month's move by the government to suspend all activities of the Wefaq National Islamic Society. Funds will be transferred to Bahrain's government, al-Arabiya TV said.
Wefaq has helped lead pro-democracy protests in the country since 2011. That February, demonstrators took to the streets to demand greater political rights and an end to discrimination against the Shia majority.
The following month, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni-led Gulf states to restore order and crush dissent. The unrest left at least 30 civilians and five policemen dead.
Opposition activists say dozens of people have been killed in ongoing clashes between protesters and security forces, while bomb attacks blamed on Iran-backed militants have killed a number of police officers.
Last month the justice ministry said it had filed a request with a court to suspend Wefaq to "safeguard the security of the kingdom".(ANA)
FA/ANA/17 July 2016-----