Bahrain has declared a state of emergency and asked the military to reassert its control over the capital, Manama, as clashes between Shia and Sunni groups spread across the country. Bahrain has been gripped by deepening political unrest and widespread protests for over a month, with the Shia majority and some Sunni liberals calling for democracy and an end to discrimination.
The crisis escalated this week after protesters over-ran the police on Sunday and took effective control of large swaths of the capital, spurring the arrival of more than 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops and light armour on Monday.
The arrival of Saudi soldiers and some police from the United Arab Emirates has escalated tensions in the already volatile Middle East region.