Bahrain parliament accepts resignation of 11 opposition MPs

The resignations of 11 lawmakers of Bahrain's largest Shia opposition party al Wefaq, who had stepped down in protest of use of force against anti-regime protesters were accepted today, in an indication that the administration has not softened its stand.

The House of Representatives unanimously accepted the resignation of the 11 lawmakers, including al Weqaf leader Abdulljalil, the official BNA news agency said.

The opposition party says that at least 15 people had died during the suppression of the protests by the administration.

The MPs had resigned in solidarity with the anti-government protests that shook the government of the Gulf state, and had rejected an offer of talks with the government criticising the involvement of Saudi forces in the country.

The move strips the lawmakers in question of parliamentary immunity, possibly exposing them to legal action.

"The House of representatives voted the resignation of each member separately and called the minister of justice to take the necessary procedures," BNA said.

The parliament, however, delayed a vote on whether to accept the resignation of another seven lawmakers.

The government imposed a three-month emergency on March 15 after a month of anti-regime protests in the country and forced out the protesters from Manama's central Pearl Square.

Bahrain's government called in troops from Saudi Arabia to help the administration check the growing unrest.