Bahrain groups plan election boycott

Four of the main political groupings in Bahrain have threatened to boycott parliamentary elections in October unless their demands for further political reform are met.

They include the influential Al Wefaq National Islamic Society which has strong support from the country's Shia Muslim majority.

The other groups are the National Democratic Society, the National Democratic Action Association and the Islamic Action Society.

The elections will be the first representative ones in Bahrain for more than 25 years.

However, the country's monarch, Sheikh Hamad - who's been responsible for introducing democratic changes - has decided to create also a non-elected Shura council which will have similar powers to those of parliament.

The objectors say this is the main reason for their proposed boycott, although they stress that they still support the King and wish to settle the dispute by peaceful means.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service