BBC News with Marion Marshall

Bahrain's public prosecutor has ordered a retrial in a civilian court for 20 medical workers sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after helping anti-government protesters. Announcing the retrial, the public prosecutor said no doctors or medical staff should be punished for fulfilling their humanitarian duties. Caroline Hawley reports.

The sentencing of the medics prompted an international outcry. Many of the doctors and nurses say they were tortured into making confessions. Amnesty International said the charges were ludicrous. Now Bahrain has acted to try to contain the damage to its reputation. There's to be a retrial in a civilian court. The attorney general said it would allow the evidence to be re-evaluated, and he promised that the doctors and nurses would have the full opportunity to defend themselves.