Bahraini authorities demolished Pearl Square, the symbol of anti-regime protests, in March as part of the crackdown on protesters.
Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have attacked anti-government protesters attempting to march toward the site of the iconic Pearl Square in the capital, Manama.
Heading a call from the opposition, hundreds of anti-government protesters marched towards Pearl Square, the former epicenter of Bahrain's revolution, on Friday.
Witnesses say regime forces have fired tear gas to prevent protesters from reaching the area and that regime forces are heavily present in central Manama and have surrounded the square with barbed wire barricades.
There have been unconfirmed reports of countless injured and arrested.
Manama is planning to hold parliamentary by-elections on September 24 to replace the opposition lawmakers who resigned in protest to the regime's crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Eighteen Bahraini lawmakers from the main opposition party, al-Wefaq, walked out of the parliament in February after security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters, killing and wounding scores of them.
Meanwhile, Bahrain's top cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, has accused the government of Al Khalifa dynasty of practicing ''fake democracy'' in the country.
He also denounced the by-elections planned for Saturday as a meaningless vote, adding that the people of Bahrain will only participate in free and fair elections.
Bahraini authorities have stepped up pressure on anti-government activists ahead of the elections and have threatened those calling for a boycott on the elections with jail.
HM/HGH
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