Saudi-backed Bahraini forces fire tear gas at a ptotest against the detention of Al-Wefaq Leader

Bahraini regime forces have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who are angry with the recent arrest of the leader of the country’s main Revolutionary opposition party, reports say.

The outraged demonstrators took to the streets in several villages and towns across the country, including Daih, A’ali, and Bilad al-Qadiam on Sunday to call for the immediate release of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

The protest turned violent when riot police intervened with tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the gatherings.

Earlier in the day, al-Wefaq announced in a statement that Sheikh Salman, 49, had been questioned by Bahrain’s criminal police for 10 hours.

The opposition bloc also described any move against Salman as serious and uncalculated adventurism, which would complicate the political and security landscape in the Persian Gulf country.

The top al-Wefaq figure was taken into custody after he secured a new four-year stint at the group’s general congress on Friday night.

On October 28, the Manama administrative court banned the activities of the opposition bloc and gave it three months to hold an assembly to elect leaders.

Al-Wefaq announced it was boycotting the kingdom’s parliamentary elections, held in November.

Bahrain has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011 when an uprising began in the kingdom.

Manama has been severely criticized by human rights groups for its harsh crackdown on anti-regime protesters, which has claimed the lives of scores of people.