Bahrain okays military trial of civilians

Bahrain police have arrested 20 people in a crackdown on Shia villages, as legislators approved a constitutional amendment that could see civilians tried in military courts in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

The lower house of parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of a constitutional amendment which drops a clause restricting military trials to offences committed by members of the army, police or other security branches.

Under the amendment to Article 105, which also needs approval in Bahrain's appointed upper house, civilians charged with "damaging public interest" or with terrorism -- broadly defined -- could now face trial in a military court.

Bahraini authorities have made sweeping use of counter-terrorism legislation in past weeks as they tighten their grip on political protests, which have entered their seventh year.