Bahraini hardline Shi'ite groups demand republic

Three Bahraini hardline Shi'ite Muslim groups, including the leading Haq movement, said on Tuesday they had created a new movement aiming at converting Bahrain's monarchy into a republic.

"This tripartite coalition adopts the choice of bringing down the existing regime in Bahrain and the establishment of a democratic republican system," the three groups said in a joint statement. (Reuters)