Protesters face death penalty in Bahrain

Bahrain is seeking the death penalty for a group of protesters accused of killing two policemen during anti-government demonstrations in the Gulf island kingdom.

The government has clamped down on the demonstrations in a security crackdown since February when mainly Shi'ite protesters took to the streets demanding more say in the Sunni-ruled country's affairs.

Security forces have arrested hundreds of people since then and a number of them died while in official custody. Hundreds of mostly Shi'ite workers have been sacked from government jobs and state-linked companies.

Bahrain News Agency said the military prosecutor would seek the death sentence for seven men accused of killing the policemen at the Lower National Safety Court. The state banned protests when it imposed martial law in March.