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Resignations over crackdown leave lower house with just 22 members as more accusations of torture are levelled.

Bahrian's parliament has accepted the resignations of the last seven lawmakers of Al Wefaq, the country's largest Shia opposition party.

The resignations, approved on Tuesday, were submitted in February in protest over the government's brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. The lawmakers acted alongside 11 other Shia opposition members of parliament whose resignations were previously accepted.

Bahrain's 40 member lower house of parliament is now left with 22 lawmakers and is controlled by Sunnis.

The lower house was created in 2002 under a new constitution aimed at easing Shia complaints of perceived second-class status.

There is also an upper house of parliament whose 40 members are appointed by the king.

Shias make up about 70 percent of the population in the kingdom ruled by a 200-year-old Sunni dynasty, but are largely excluded from top government and security posts.

Shias were the driving force behind protests calling for political reforms that began in February.

Bahraini authorities have been seeking to prosecute opposition leaders and other protesters perceived to be linked to clashes and protests in the Gulf Arab nation.

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