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Reports: Bahrain court orders main Shiite party dissolved

Associated Press
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FILE- In this Jan. 18, 2012 file photo, an anti-government protester stands in front of riot police while photographing other demonstrators in Manama, Bahrain. Local media in Bahrain are reporting that a court has ordered the country's main Shiite opposition group to be dissolved. The order against Al-Wefaq follows an intensified crackdown on dissent in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Monday, May 30, 2016, file photo lawyer Jalila al-Sayed, left, speaks to journalists as Abduljalil Khalil, a senior member of Al-Wefaq political society, center, and lawyer Hassan Radhi, right, listen during a press conference in Manama, Bahrain. Local media in Bahrain are reporting that a court has ordered the country's main Shiite opposition group to be dissolved. The order against Al-Wefaq follows an intensified crackdown on dissent in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, file photo, Sayed Hadi al-Mousawi, a spokesman for the largest Bahraini Shiite opposition group Al-Wefaq, speaks during a press conference in Manama, Bahrain. Local media in Bahrain are reporting that a court has ordered the country's main Shiite opposition group to be dissolved. The order against Al-Wefaq follows an intensified crackdown on dissent in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) (The Associated Press)

Local media in Bahrain are reporting that a court has ordered the country's main Shiite opposition group to be dissolved.

The order against Al-Wefaq on Sunday follows an intensified crackdown on dissent in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahraini dailies Al-Ayam and Al-Wasat say the ruling calls for the group's assets to be liquidated and transferred to the state treasury.

Al-Wefaq representatives could not immediately be reached, and government officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Authorities suspended Al-Wefaq's activities last month and have sentenced its secretary-general, Sheikh Ali Salman, to nine years in prison. They have accused the group of having links with groups that support terrorism.