Pro-democracy protesters have taken to the streets in Bahrain to voice support for university students held in prison across the Persian Gulf state.

The demonstrations were staged in the northeastern island of Sitra, south of the capital Manama, and the village of Samaheej, on Friday.

The demonstrators chanted slogans and carried anti-regime signs during the rallies that came ahead of the new school year in the kingdom.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed in the Bahraini regime crackdown.

NT/MHB/MAM