Participants in rallies held in different regions of Bahrain on Wednesday condemned the Al Khalifa regime's harsh action against Sitra residents.

Bahraini regime forces have been carrying out house-to-house searches following the deaths of two policemen in a bombing on the tiny island.

Authorities have arrested a number of people and placed the country under a security lockdown.

The main opposition movement, al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, has condemned the crackdown, saying in a statement, "What is happening in Sitra Island ... is an organized collective punishment."

Al-Wefaq also noted that the Al Khalifa regime is depriving the citizens of their basic rights.

"The situation raises concern as it represents a violation of the basic and fundamental humanitarian rights of the citizens," the statement said.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations on the streets of Bahrain.

Protesters initially called for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy. However, the demand later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.