Bahrain detains 4 for alleged anti-king tweets

October 18, 2012 | Modified: October 18, 2012 at 9:17 am
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A Bahraini woman holds a picture of Mehdi Marhoun, who relatives and opposition groups said died from tear gas exposure, during his funeral in Ma'ameer, Bahrain, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Clashes erupted after the funeral between anti-government protesters throwing rocks and petrol bombs and riot police firing tear gas and stun grenades. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain has detained four people for defaming the island's king with Twitter posts in a case that is likely to test the limits of expression in the violence-wracked Gulf nation.

Similar prosecutions across the region have brought strong criticism from media freedom groups.

Bahrain has come under intense scrutiny for its crackdowns on opposition protesters since February 2011. The island's majority Shiites have battled a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahraini authorities did not give further details on the suspects or the contents of their Web posts.

The official Bahrain News Agency said late Wednesday the four will be held for seven days pending trial.

Twitter and other social media have become key tools of Bahrain's opposition groups.