MANAMA, Bahrain: Late night clashes with riot police in the divided Gulf nation of Bahrain have left a 16-year-old boy dead.

Yousef al-Muhafedha, of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said Husam al-Hadad was beaten by security forces late Friday and died from his injuries. The Ministry of Interior confirmed al-Haddad died but only after attacking police with molotov cocktails.

At least 50 people have died since February 2011 on the island nation which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The Kingdom's Shiite majority are fighting for greater political rights from the Sunni monarchy.

Opposition forces are likely to rally behind the killing, especially since it comes a day after prominent activist Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to three years in prison for instigating and participating in anti-government rallies.