Three-month state of emergency declared in Bahrain

A three-month state of emergency has been declared in Bahrain to try to quell political unrest threatening the monarchy.

Bahrain’s king Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa said that the nation’s armed forces chief was authorised to take all measures to stamp out protests that have swept it for the past month.

The move comes a day after a Saudi-led military force arrived to help prop up the US-backed regime.

Bahrain’s Shiite majority is seeking sweeping reforms against the Sunni rulers.

Meanwhile one of the Saudi soldiers was shot dead by a protester in the capital.

A Saudi official said the shooter was among a crowd of people when they opened fire.