MANAMA, Bahrain - Demonstrators are gathering at the headquarters of Bahrain's main opposition party in the island nation's capital despite a government ban.

The Saturday protest in front of Al Wefaq's offices in Manama is a show of defiance by the party, the main backer of the Shiite majority's campaign to be granted greater rights and freedoms by Bahrain's Sunni dynasty.

Thousands of demonstrators waved Bahraini flags and changed slogans amid a massive security presence.

Bahrain's 10 month-old uprising sees daily clashes between demonstrators and security forces, but Al Wefaq usually refrains from organizing protests unless given a permit.

At least 40 people have died since the unrest began in February.