Security forces used live fire to break up anti-government protests in the town of Awamiyah on Friday.

In reaction to the attack, protesters set fire to an armored police vehicle during the clashes.

The move is considered as part of a fresh crackdown on anti-regime protests in Saudi Arabia.

On February 20, two anti-government activists were killed when regime forces supported by armed vehicles stormed a neighborhood in Awamiyah.

One day earlier, a Saudi court sentenced seven people to jail terms of up to 20 years for taking part in protests in Qatif.

Activists say there are over 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.

The men were also convicted of chanting slogans against the government as well as possession and making of petrol bombs and throwing them at the security forces.

Eastern Province has been the scene of violent clashes between anti-regime protesters and Saudi forces for some three years.

Riyadh has strictly banned any gatherings across the kingdom. Several people have died in the regime crackdown on protests.

In October 2013, rights group Amnesty International censured Saudi authorities for not addressing the “dire human rights situation” in the kingdom.

NTJ/MB