Human rights groups have called on the United Nations to hold an urgent session to address the widespread violations of rights in Bahrain

Human rights groups have called on the United Nations to hold an urgent session to address the widespread violations of rights in Bahrain.

Human Rights Watch and the Geneva-based Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies said on Wednesday that they are worried about the growing abuses by the Bahraini regime against its citizens who are seeking political reforms and a voice in the government, AP reported.

The human rights organizations said that hundreds of people have been detained or arbitrarily arrested in Bahrain, activists barred from traveling abroad and several protesters martyred as security forces in balaclavas and military fatigues resort to excessive force and storm villages, hospitals and news organizations.

Opposition groups in Bahrain, mainly Al-Wafeq, say that Saudi troops were believed to be carrying out nightly raids on civilian homes. They said although the soldiers wore masks their accent was distinguished as Saudi.

The UN's labor organization also said it is gravely concerned about widespread mistreatment of unionized workers who have been holding peaceful demonstrations.

“The situation is deteriorating fast” as the Bahraini security forces use violence to try to stem the wave of popular protests, Julie de Rivero of the New York-based Human Rights Watch said.