Bahrain Mirror (AFP): Authorities in Bahrain said they had uncovered a large stash of weapons and arrested a number of people suspected of having links with Iran and Iraq.

A statement late Wednesday published on the interior ministry's website said arms and explosives were discovered in a house in the mainly Shiite town of Nuwaidrat, south of the capital Manama.

The cache included a tonne and a half of C4 explosives and other explosive material, as well as automatic rifles, pistols, and hand grenades, according to the ministry.

It said several suspects were detained for allegedly having "links with Iran and Iraq".

Sunni-ruled Bahrain, which has a Shiite majority, in August arrested five people suspected of links with Iran in connection with a bombing that killed two policemen in the island Gulf state.

The tiny but strategic U.S. ally has seen frequent unrest since a Shiite-led uprising erupted four years ago demanding a constitutional monarchy.

Bahrain frequently accuses Shiite Iran of backing the unrest.