Bahrain's Sunni groups and clerics have criticised the rally, staged by Al Wefaq, the country's largest Shiite group, on Friday, saying it would lead to tension in the kingdom. Six Sunni societies issued a statement calling on citizens to avoid "any move that could undermine stability and disrupt social peace." "Demanding political reforms should be addressed by the available constitutional means such as the National Assembly," said the statement, issued by Al Asala Islamic Society, Al Shura Islamic Society, the National Democratic Assembly, Al Mithaq Society, the Islamic National Forum Society and the Free Thought Society. "Sit-ins, processions and protests only lead to more political tension," they said. Clerics also criticised the rally as "unlawful" and called on Al Wefaq to abandon any plan for further protests. "The Interior ministry has the right to ban the rally because it was unlawful and illegal," Shaikh Jumaa Tawfiq said during the Friday prayer sermon.