Soldiers opened fire Friday on thousands of protesters defying a government ban and streaming toward the Manama square that became the symbolic centre of the uprising to break the political grip of the Bahrain leaders.

Hospital officials said at least 50 people were injured, some with gunshot wounds.

Ambulance sirens were heard throughout central Manama a day after riot police swept through the protest encampment in Pearl Square, killing at least five people and injuring more than 230, writes AP

The protests seemed to have become rebellion against the entire ruling system and the monarchy, and the White House expressed dissatisfaction due to rising tensions in Bahrain, AP writes.

Demonstrations are banned in Bahrain, and the army has taken over the control over Manama.

Thousands of Shiite protesters have been gathering on the Manama streets since Monday, looking up to protests in Egypt and Tunisia, demanding radical political changes in the country.

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a Sunni royal family, although the majority of population are Shiite.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned violence of the security forces in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen against the antigovernment protesters.