The protests, which have now claimed two lives, are the latest in the wave of unrest to sweep the Middle East The king of Bahrain has gone on television to announce an investigation into the deaths of two protesters killed in clashes with security forces.
On Tuesday, a mourner was shot dead at the funeral of a protester killed when police fired a barrage of tear gas and rubber bullets in the capital, Manama.
Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa offered his condolences to the men’s families.
But soon after, thousands of protesters gathered in Manama’s main square. The security forces have so far held back.
The disturbances in Bahrain – where the Shia majority has been ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family since the 18th Century – are the latest in the wave of anti-government unrest that has swept the Middle East.
In a rare national TV address on Tuesday, Sheikh Hamad expressed regret about the recent fatalities and announced a ministerial probe.
“There have sadly been two deaths. I express my deep condolences to their families,” he said.
“Everyone should know that I have assigned Deputy Prime Minister Jawad al-Urayyid to form a special committee to find out the reasons that led to such regrettable events,” he added.
Mr Urayyid is a long-serving Shia member of Bahrain’s government, which is dominated by members of the king’s family.
Sheikh Hamad also promised to continue the reforms he has instigated since the emirate became a constitutional monarchy in 2002.
“Reform is going ahead. It will not stop,” he said.
Following the address, thousands of protesters gathered in Pearl Square in the centre of the capital, but they were not confronted by security forces. Dozens of police cars were parked about 500m (550yds) away.
Thousands of people later gathered in Pearl Square in the centre of Manama Many in the crowd waved Bahraini flags and chanted: “No Sunnis, no Shia. We are all Bahrainis”.
Earlier, 31-year-old Fadel Salman Matrouk died after being shot with a “hollow-point bullet” in front of the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama, Shia opposition MP Khalil al-Marzuq told the AFP news agency.
“All our demands are legitimate. The people want to participate in the decision making process through an elected council and a constitution”
Abu Jalil Ibrahim Al-Wifaq
However, officials at the hospital told the Associated Press that he had been hit by buckshot fired during the funeral.
He was among a crowd of more than 2,000 mainly Shia mourners at the funeral of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima, 21, who was killed in clashes on Monday between protesters and security forces in the village of Daih, east of Manama.
The demonstrators had been marching to Manama to demand for greater political rights. At least 25 people were reportedly hurt by rubber bullets, buckshot and tear gas fired by the security forces, witnesses said.
Following Mr Matrouk’s death, a leader of the country’s main Shia Islamist opposition bloc, the Islamic National Accord Society, also known as al-Wifaq, told BBC Arabic that it had decided to boycott parliament in protest at “the brutal practices” of the security forces.
“I have participated in many demonstrations. All of them were peaceful and their slogans were peaceful. I’m now walking in the funeral of the first martyr and the second one is still in the morgue,” Abu Jalil Ibrahim said.
“All our demands are legitimate. The people want to participate in the decision making process through an elected council and a constitution.”
“So, why do they use banned weapons and kill innocent people?”
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