ARAD, Bahrain: A new petition drive calling for an end to the alleged politically-motivated naturalization of Sunni Arabs and Asians on the island was launched by Bahraini opposition groups on Wednesday January 13.

The action, which intends to collect citizens' signatures, is aimed at what the opposition describes as an effort to change the demography of largely Shiite Bahrain and influence the outcome of elections.

Six groups at the offices of the National Democratic Action Society (Waad) in Arad, north of the Bahraini capital Manama, launched the drive.

It carried echoes of a demonstration in October by thousands against the naturalization law.

The group includes Islamic Shiite, Leftists, and Pan-Arab movements.

The appeal is to be presented to the Bahraini King, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. It calls for a halt to all naturalization of foreigners until a national dialogue can be carried out and an agreement can be reached on a new law addressing the issue.

"The surge in numbers has been confirmed by government figures that show a dramatic increase in population, citizens and naturalized, since the beginning of this decade by nearly 4.2 per cent annually, up from 2.5 per cent before this destructive policy was implemented," the petition said, according to Waad General Secretary, Ebrahim Shareef, who read it out during a press conference.

"Bahrain is small in size and it is one of the world's most densely populated areas with limited oil, gas, water, and land resources and cannot accommodate this huge increase in population which has reached a 100 per cent within a decade and half."

The government insists that only several thousand people have been naturalized, in accordance with the law.

In a previous petition attempt, the Royal Court refused to receive it because the constitution only allows individuals, not groups, to address public authorities.