Bahrain's youth movement, which had been leading protests in Pearl Square, called on Wednesday for a mass demonstration from all Manama suburbs towards Budaya Street in the north of the capital.

The February 14 group said in a mass text message that the protest would begin at 3:30pm (1230 GMT). Budaya Street is lined with Shia Muslim villages and suburbs and leads to the Sunni Muslim suburb of Budaya.