Bahraini riot police blocked a key thoroughfare on Sunday to stop protesters who were planning to prevent employees from entering the Bahrain Financial Harbour, a key business district.

Forming a thick line across the motorway, police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters and pushed them back towards Pearl roundabout, the focal point of weeks of demonstrations in the kingdom.

Police appeared to outnumber protesters but dozens of people rushed toward the demonstration as news spread. Helicopters circled overhead and ambulances headed to the scene.

Thousands of the nascent Feb 14 youth movement are still occupying Manama's Pearl Square and have launched almost daily marches.

The youth movement said in a statement late on Saturday that it would form a human chain to block entry to the Financial Harbour from noon on Sunday. - Reuters