Three high-profile prisoners who boycotted two court hearings in connection with alleged attempts to overthrow the government will forcibly be brought to next week's session.

The Supreme Criminal Appeals Court yesterday ordered police to escort Hassan Mushaima, Abduljalil Al Singace and opposition activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, who last month ended a managed hunger strike, to court after previously refusing to attend any more hearings, claiming the judicial system was biased.

They are among 21 suspects convicted by the National Safety Court in connection with alleged attempts to overthrow the government last year with help from a foreign terrorist organisation.

Eleven defendants attended yesterday's session, during which three took to the stand and claimed they were forced to sing the national anthem in police custody and were mistreated.

Security was stepped up for yesterday's hearing as riot police surrounded the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry complex and National Security Agency officers were present inside the courtroom.

Seven of the defendants, including one sentenced to life behind bars, are still at large having been sentenced in absentia. But their appeal was earlier referred to the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court for review by the Cassation Court.

They include Mr Mushaima's son Ali and Dr Saeed Al Shehabi, who is head of the London-based opposition group Bahrain Freedom Movement.

Eight defendants, including Mr Al Khawaja, were earlier jailed for life for their part in the alleged plot.

Ten others were jailed for 15 years each, while two got five years after being cleared of some of the more serious charges and another was jailed for two years for taking part in illegal gatherings and spreading rumours and lies.

One defendant, Al Hur Yousif Al Somaikh, in his 20s, was convicted of taking part in an illegal gathering at the former GCC (Pearl) Roundabout, but had his two-year sentence slashed to six months and was earlier released having already spent 12 months behind bars.

The case was adjourned to next Tuesday for the rest of the defendants to be cross-examined.