Security forces in Bahrain have used tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters marching toward Pearl Square in the capital Manama.

The protesters had gathered Friday for the funeral of the father of a key opposition leader.

There were no reports of casualties.

Activists say Ali Hasan al-Dehi was beaten by riot police on Wednesday. The government said he died of natural causes.

Dehi was the father of Hussein al-Dehi, who is deputy head of Bahrain's largest Shi'ite opposition party, Al-Wefaq.

The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, called on all sides to exercise restraint. It urged the government to be fully transparent in the investigation of what happened to Dehi.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said this was a “fragile time in Bahrain.”