A Bahrain military court upheld life sentences on Wednesday against opposition leaders for organising protests earlier this year, the state news agency said.

The national security appeals court, set up during a period of martial law that ended in May, sentenced eight of 21 men on trial to life in prison in June. One of those sentenced to life was tried in absentia because he lives abroad.

The eight facing imprisonment include rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and opposition leaders, such as Hassan Mushaimaa.

The 21 men include the leader of the secular Waad party, Ibrahim Sharif, whose five-year sentence was also upheld.

These men were found guilty of charges including 'forming a terrorist group to change the constitution and its monarchical system', inciting sectarian hatred, organising unlicenced protests, collecting money for an unspecified 'terrorist group' and collaborating with a foreign country (a reference to Iran), the news agency said.

According to the news agency, the men could still appeal the verdicts in a civilian court. They could be released via an amnesty from King Hamad bin Isa.

The government, which has been pressed by its ally Washington to talk to leading opposition party Wefaq, says it will allow parliament more powers to monitor cabinet ministers and that the ongoing clashes are holding up economic recovery. No Wefaq figures are among the 21 convicted.-Reuters