AFP: A Bahraini court will pronounce next month its verdict in the trial of opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman who is charged with seeking to overthrow the Sunni monarchy, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The prosecution demanded sentencing the Shiite cleric to the "maximum punishment" before the judge set June 16 as the date for a verdict, the public prosecution said in a statement carried by BNA state news agency.

Salman, 49, was arrested on Dec. 28 for allegedly "promoting the overthrow and change of the political regime by force" and inciting disobedience and hatred in public statements.

Salman's arrest sparked condemnation from the United States, Iran and international rights groups.

It also triggered demonstrations across the kingdom, ruled by King Hamad.

Tiny but strategic Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by unrest since a 2011 Shiite-led uprising demanding a constitutional monarchy and more representative government.

At least 89 people have been killed in clashes with security forces since 2011, while hundreds have been arrested and put on trial, rights groups say.