Bahrain arrested several opposition leaders on Thursday as part of a crackdown on anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom, driven by majority Shiites, who are calling for democracy and civil rights.

Five hardline Shiite activists and one Sunni were rounded up during the night, a parliamentarian from the Shiite opposition alliance told AFP.

They were arrested in the night, Al-Wefaq deputy leader Khalil Marzouk told AFP.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she finds the situation in Bahrain alarming and criticised the government's use of force against protesters. She said Bahrain and Gulf allies were on the wrong track and urged the tiny Gulf kingdom to negotiate a political agreement with demonstrators.

We find what's happening in Bahrain alarming. We think that there is no security answer to the aspirations and demands of the demonstrators, she told CBS. They are on the wrong track.

The US State Department also released a message on twitter, saying We object to excessive force and violence against demonstrators; we raised our concerns directly today to Bahrain.

Burning tents are seen in Pearl Square in Bahrains capital Manama after security forces evacuated anti-government protesters.
Forces in Bahrain used tanks and helicopters to drive protesters off the streets and clear a camp that had become a symbol of their demand for more rights and powers on the Sunni-ruled island. Reuters
Cars line up at a checkpoint as heavy machinery clears the opposition camp in Pearl Square in Manama
Cars line up at a checkpoint (R) set up by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) forces as heavy machinery clears the opposition camp (L) in Pearl Square in Manama March 17, 2011. Troops were only allowing residents in and a long line of cars was backed up behind a checkpoint, waving through drivers heading to work in the financial district, where the protesters had tried to extend their sit-in early this week. Reuters
A soldier from the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC forces prays in front of his Armour Personnel Carrier in Manam
A soldier from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) forces prays in front of his Armour Personnel Carrier as his fellow solider keeps watch while they guard the Bahrain Financial Harbour in Manama March 16, 2011. Reuters
Protesters hold up Iraqi and Bahraini flags during a demonstration in Baghdads Sadr city, in support of the Bahraini people
Followers of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in Baghdad and Basra on Wednesday in support of mainly-Shi'ite demonstrators in Bahrain, denouncing intervention by Saudi troops. Reuters
Anti-government protesters run from tear gas fired by Gulf Cooperation Council GCC forces as they move in to evacuate Pearl Square in Manama
Bahraini forces used tanks and helicopters to drive protesters from the streets on Wednesday clearing a camp that had become a symbol of the Shi'ite Muslim uprising and drawing rare criticism from their U.S. Allies. Reuters
Men walk in front of closed shops near Pearl Square in the center of Manama
Thousands of the nascent Feb. 14 youth movement are still occupying Manama's Pearl Square and have launched almost daily marches, which have forced shops in the area to remain closed amid fears of attacks... Reuters
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