Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have clashed with anti-government protesters demanding an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty in Sanabis, northwest of the capital Manama.

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have clashed with anti-government protesters demanding an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty in Sanabis, northwest of the capital Manama.

Similar protest rallies were also held in the villages of Dair and Samaheej on Friday, but there were no reports of clashes.

Amnesty International has cancelled a fact-finding mission to the kingdom, saying the Bahraini regime has imposed restrictions on rights groups monitoring the situation there.

The Bahraini regime has used heavy-handed security tactics to crush the protests.

Bahraini troops heavily rely on tear gas and stun grenades to disperse peaceful anti-government protesters. Several Bahraini civilians, mostly senior citizens and kids, have also died from asphyxia after regime troops fired tear gas in residential areas and into homes in violation of international standards that Bahrain is a signatory to.

Amnesty International has warned about the Bahraini government's misuse of tear gas against anti-regime protesters and has called for an investigation into the tear gas-related deaths.

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al-Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

Scores of people have also been killed and many others have been injured in the Saudi-backed terrorist crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.