AL-QATIF, Saudi Arabia: There were reports that Saudi authorities have arrested one of the main Shiite leaders in Saudi Arabia Sheikh Namr Baqer An-Namr after he lashed out at the regime calling on Shiites to "be ready to defend themselves" and brandishing the threat of secession from the oil-rich Eastern Province following religious police attacks against pilgrims in Al-Baqee and Prophet Mosque in the holy city of Medinah.

"Our dignity is better than the unity of this land," said the leader during the Friday sermon in the town of Al-Awamiya.

Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz categorically rejected accusations of discrimination against the Shiites in Saudi Arabia as Shiite leaders threatened of “secession of the Eastern Province" from the oil-rich kingdom.

"There are foreign parties who seek to cause (an) escalation (between Sunni and Shia), but we are able (...) to prevent any interference in the internal affairs of the country," Prince Nayef warned in a lengthy interview published Saturday by the Saudi daily 'Okaz.

According to Shiites and also international human rights bodies they (Shiites) suffer discrimination, particularly being banned from holding key positions in military, diplomacy and security and from exercising their religious rites and cultural activities.

Earlier, Saudi Shiite opposition held in front of the Saudi Embassy in London a large rally shouting strong slogans against the Saudi authorities.

One of the opposition leaders, Sheikh Yasser Al-Habib, haranguing the crowd, said that "the equation has now changed. Shiites (Saudis) have to practice their beliefs freely. Otherwise, it will be the autonomy of the Eastern Province and even the secession of this province."

Shiite writers claim they represent between 15% to 20% of the Saudi population which is estimated at 18 million. They are concentrated mainly in the oil-rich Eastern Province adjoining Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Sheikh Habib, whose address appears on a video broadcast on Youtube, even called for the "return of the Grand Bahrain", adding that Saudi Shiites were "ready to unite with Iraq.