"Down, down with King Hamad," chanted dozens of supporters of the youth group of the "Revolution of February 14," referring to Bahrain's monarch, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. "The people want to overthrow the regime."

 

"We have the right to choose our destiny," they chanted, waving the kingdom's red and white flag, AFP reported.

 

An exact toll of those hurt cannot be obtained, as wounded protesters are treated in homes from fear of being arrested in hospital.

 

Hundreds took part in similar protests near Manama on Friday calling for the release of opposition detainees, witnesses said.

 

And on Wednesday, leading human rights activist Nabil Rajab was re-arrested.

 

Rajab led anti-government protests following a government crackdown on demonstrations against the regime in March 2011.

 

Demonstrators also chanted anti-government slogans and demanded the release of opposition detainees, witnesses said. A similar rally in support of Rajab was held in Sitra on Thursday.

 

Rajab, the president of the non-profit Bahraini NGO, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was initially arrested at the Bahrain International Airport in the capital, Manama, on May 5 upon return from the Lebanese capital Beirut. He was charged with organizing anti-regime demonstrations and insulting Bahraini authorities through social networking websites.

 

He was released on May 28 after spending three weeks behind bars on a bail of 300 Bahraini dinars (around USD 800) with a travel ban. Rajab was placed back in detention on Wednesday on fresh charges linked to his social media posts.

 

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

 

Scores of people have been killed and many others have been injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.

 

Bahrainis hold King Hamad responsible for the death and arrest of protesters.