Amnesty International stressed today that the Bahraini authorities must urgently halt the imminent execution of two men who were convicted after a grossly unfair mass trial after they were tortured to confess, said.

A UN human rights expert said Bahrain must halt the reportedly imminent execution of two men who were sentenced to death on the basis of confessions allegedly obtained through torture, and after trials which appear not to have fulfilled guarantees of fairness and due process.

Bahraini authorities appear ready to carry out death sentences against Ali al-Arab, 25, and Ahmad al-Malali, 24, both Bahraini citizens, Human Rights Watch said today.

Prominent human rights activist, Ebtisam Al-Sayegh, said the family of prisoner sentenced to death, Ahmad Al-Malali, were told by a prison officer that the visit was based on "orders from above".

The parents of prisoners, Ali Al-Arab and Ahmad Al-Malali, who are sentenced to death, said they had received phone calls from the Jaw Central Prison administration informing them that they have an unscheduled private visit with their sons, which raised concerns that the authorities would soon execute the death sentence.