Bahrain keeps travel ban on prominent opposition member

Manama: A Bahrain court has rejected an appeal to lift a travel ban on a senior opposition figure facing charges of encouraging anti-government violence in the Gulf nation.

Lawyers backing Khalil Al Marzouq also challenged the anti-terrorism codes under which he is charged, which can strip citizenship in some cases. But the court on Monday said the charges stand and set the next hearing for December 12.

The case has deepened tensions in the kingdom, which has faced near-nonstop unrest and bloodshed since the opposition began an Arab Spring-inspired uprising in February 2011 seeking a greater political voice.

Shiite leaders broke off reconciliation talks after the September arrest of Al Marzouq, a top official with the main Shiite political bloc Al Wefaq.