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Updated Monday, June 27, 2011 0:08 am TWN, Reuters

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YouTube video shows protest rally in S. Arabia

DUBAI--Dozens of people wearing white shrouds have staged a peaceful march in the oil-producing region of eastern Saudi Arabia, demanding basic rights and the release of prisoners, according to a video posted on YouTube.

The video recording, dated June 24, showed some 30 men, many in Western clothes, marching with white shrouds that symbolise willingness to die as martyrs, in the mainly Shi'ite city of Qatif on Friday.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the recording, but Shi'ites have often held small protests in the area.

A Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman said he was not aware of the report but would check with local police.

A local rights activist said the protest, inspired by a government crackdown on fellow Shi'ites in neighbouring Bahrain, was the first one of its kind in the area in two months.

“The demonstrators were not calling for bringing down the regime. They were simply demanding basic rights and an end to sectarian discrimination,” Mohammed al-Said said by telephone.

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