A Bahraini government-supported religious endowment expressed regret Tuesday over a move by police to take down Ashura banners and flags

A Bahraini government-supported religious endowment expressed regret Tuesday over a move by police to take down Ashura banners and flags, an action that sparked clashes earlier in the day.

The opposition group al-Wefaq said several people were injured in the clashes outside of Manama on Tuesday. Authorities gave no casualty figures for the clashes, which saw police fire tear gas and birdshot.

The kingdom's Shiite Endowment Department later issued a statement saying the banners and flags were allowed and said their removal "contradicted the guidelines" of the king.

Ashura is a Muslim commemoration marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, at the Battle of Karbala.