THREE Bahraini women accused of assaulting policewomen and participating in an illegal rally have been released pending a verdict by the Lower Criminal Court.

They were freed from police custody on guarantee of their place of residence.

One of the women is also standing trial in a separate case alongside opposition activist Zainab Al Khawaja for refusing to leave an illegal protest in Abu Saiba in December.

Meanwhile, Ms Al Khawaja was also released after agreeing to pay a BD200 fine in connection with another case in which she was convicted of insulting a policeman outside the Interior Ministry.

She had previously refused to pay the fine and is also standing trial for allegedly insulting and assaulting two policewomen and trying to block the King Faisal Highway during an illegal protest.

Yesterday's hearing centred on an illegal rally outside the Interior Ministry in April.

The trial was adjourned until June 13 for prosecution witnesses to give evidence.