Bahrain says 500 protesters freed

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 23 (UPI) -- Bahrain says it has released more than 500 political dissidents since the State of National Safety was declared in March.

Sheik Fawaz bin Mohammad al-Khalifa, head of the Bahrain media authority, said in a Gulf News report Monday some of the detainees were permitted to return home on humanitarian grounds.

He said others were freed after spending time in police custody for their part in the uprisings that began earlier this year. Six women are among the dissidents being held for trial.

Some international organizations accused Bahrain of arresting doctors for treating injured protesters and for using Salmaniya Medical Complex, the country's largest hospital, as bait to round up injured demonstrators.

Bahrain denies the allegations, saying it only arrested demonstrators for "criminal" actions.

Officials Monday lifted the nighttime curfew imposed in March, citing normal security levels.