Bahrain: Activist ends hunger strike

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 29 (UPI) -- Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, an activist sentenced to life in prison on charges of plotting against Bahrain's monarchy, ended a 110-day hunger strike, officials said.

The Kuwait Times said Tuesday Khawaja felt he had succeeded in bringing attention to the plight of imprisoned activists in Bahrain, mobilizing world media around his cause.

Khawaja was arrested by Bahrain Security Forces in April 2011 amid a crackdown on Shiite protesters and activists.

The rights activist had complained to Amnesty International -- a London-based human rights organization -- he had been sexually assaulted while in jail as well as beaten up by guards.

The Kuwait Times said Khawaja is being retried in a civil court after rights groups accused the Bahraini government of "grossly violating his civil rights" with a hearing scheduled Tuesday.