Opposition arrests follow crackdown in Bahrain unrest

The opposition, which is seeking political reform, has gone to ground to plan its next move.

At least three civilians and three police died in yesterday’s violence, according to BBC reports.

Matar Ibrahim, a former opposition MP from Bahrain's Shia majority who recently resigned in protest at the crackdown said the government was completely ignoring the message from the US that they were on the wrong track.

The US state department has criticised the use of excessive force and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for dialogue.

Ibrahim said “We refuse to enter a dialogue while there are guns pointed at our heads."

Bahrain is the first Gulf country in turmoil during a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world. Bahrain has a population of 800,000 and is home to the US Navy's Fifth On Tuesday King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa declared a three-month state of emergency and Saudi troops were called in to keep order.

The following day troops moved in at dawn backed by tanks and helicopters to clear the central Pearl Square, where protesters had been camped for several weeks.

Troops also surrounded the main Salmaniya hospital, preventing the arrival and departure of doctors and injured protesters, and there are reports that they still remain trapped.