( CNN ) -- Bahrain lifted state of emergency laws Wednesday that had allowed for a crackdown on political leaders and journalists , but at the same time continued its crackdown on the country 's major Shiite political opposition movement and stifled the latest street protests . It filed charges against four top opposition leaders in a move that could weaken the country 's Al Wefaq party , according to two opposition sources . This came as King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appealed for dialogue , saying that talks with opposition groups are scheduled to begin in July . The lifting of the emergency laws , imposed in mid-March , is thought to be an effort to signal an end to months of civil unrest stemming from the Arab Spring , a wave of anti-government demonstrations that started in Tunisia and have since roiled several countries in the Middle East and North Africa , including Egypt , Syria , Yemen and Bahrain . But the announcement by the country 's Information Affairs Authority followed one from the justice ministry the day before warning against `` any type of activities that could affect the security or harm the national peace and safety . '' Meanwhile , protesters gathered across Bahrain , in locations including Aldiraz , Daih , Bani Jamrah , Karzakan , Abo Qowa , Duraz and Sitra , according to Nabeel Rajab , a prominent Bahraini human rights activist . Rajab said peaceful protesters were attacked by security forces with tear gas and rubber bullets , causing injuries but no deaths . The demonstrations were dispersed soon after they started , he said . The country is set to hold parliamentary elections in September , filling seats vacated by members of Al Wefaq , which left parliament in protest over the crackdown . The military prosecutor in Bahrain on Tuesday summoned four top Al Wefaq leaders and presented them with charges that could result in prison terms , the two opposition sources told CNN . The sources did n't know what the charges were . It is not clear whether those opposition leaders will be permitted to take part in the September elections . If someone faces charges , they ca n't run for election or travel out of the country . The four are Sheikh Ali Salman , Wefaq 's leader , Abdul Khalil Jalil , the leader of Al Wefaq 's parliament bloc , Khalil al-Marzooq , who once was deputy leader of that bloc , and another lawmaker whose identity was not available . Two other Al Wefaq members had already been detained and another is out of the country . One of the two is Matar Ebrahim Matar . Bahrain said he is being detained based on evidence provided to the courts , but one of his relatives told CNN that family members are not aware of any charges against Matar . Protesters initially took to the streets of Manama , the capital , to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy . But some have called for the removal of the royal family that has led the Persian Gulf state since the 18th century . Young members of the country 's Shiite majority have staged protests in recent years to complain about discrimination , unemployment and corruption , issues they say the country 's Sunni rulers have done little to address . The government has since come under intense criticism by human rights groups over its detentions . Also last week , Bahrain said it had released 515 detainees imprisoned since the state of emergency went into effect . It is unclear how many people were in custody . Last week , the United States pulled its human rights officer from the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain after he became the target of a harassment campaign that senior American officials say appears to have been fanned by some hard-line members of the government . Ludovic Hood was for months the subject of threats and anti-Semitic slurs on a pro-government website and in state-sanctioned newspapers , the officials said . Hood was scheduled to leave the country this summer , as his tour of duty was coming to a close . But senior U.S. officials said the embassy sent him home several weeks early over concern for his safety .
The country lifts emergency laws imposed since mid-March . A new law allows the government to seize assets of suspected terrorists and their families without a court order if they are believed to be linked with terrorism. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appeals for dialogue with opposition groups . The country is set to hold parliamentary elections in September .