MANAMA, Bahrain: A royal pardon in Bahrain that freed 22 activists has been praised by Shiite opposition leaders. They said Tuesday that the releases helped defuse tensions that boiled over into clashes between Shiite youths and police over the past month in the Gulf island nation.

The pardon by Bahrain's monarch led to the release on Sunday of 178 people imprisoned on security-related charges. Among them were 22 Shiite activists who have been on trial since February on charges of seeking to destabilize the government and promote regime change through terrorism.

The arrest of the 22 in December and their subsequent trial had stoked anger among Shiites, who make up about 70 percent of the population in a country that is ruled by a Sunni leadership.

Shiites have complained of being marginalized and suffering greater unemployment.

Sunday's releases brought cheers in Shiite villages, where residents put up lights and other decorations, and greeted the returning prisoners with flowers and waving Bahraini flags.

The leading figure among the released activists — Hassan Mushaima'a, outspoken head of the opposition Haq movement — said the pardon is "a step in the right direction, and we look at it with optimist." But it should be "linked to the next steps for dialogue," he told The Associated Press.

Sheik Mohammed Habib al-Moqdad, a released opposition cleric, said the release was "a first step toward calming the situation and preparing the ground for a comprehensive dialogue."

Bahrain's king, Sheik Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, issued the pardon after talks with Shiite religious leaders said the leader of the Shiite al-Wefaq parliamentary bloc.

Shiite leaders are pushing for government action to improve conditions in impoverished Shiite villages including easing employment and boosting housing.

The activists' trial followed widespread protests by Shiites.

During the trial, protests erupted several times and turned more violent.