Updated

Witnesses say thousands of opposition supporters have rallied in the tiny island nation of Bahrain to protest a proposal outlined by the country's leadership related to legislative, security and judicial reforms.

Friday's rally by members of the Shiite opposition came a day after the crown prince, Sheik Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, issued a statement summarizing proposed changes that included unspecified changes to electoral districts.

Opposition members criticized the proposal as being issued unilaterally and failing to go far enough in meeting their demands.

Bahrain is a Western ally that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The tiny island nation has been roiled by more than three years of unrest spearheaded by the country's Shiite majority, who are demanding greater rights from the ruling Sunni monarchy.