MANAMA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain's High Criminal Court on Thursday acquitted Shaikh Ali Salman, a leader of Bahrain's top opposition, and two former members of the parliament involved in conspiring with Qatar.

Salman, former secretary general of the Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was accused of spying with a foreign country to carry out hostile acts against Bahrain's national interest, and charged with sharing classified information that could harm the country.

Advocate General Osama Al Oufi said he would appeal the ruling, saying that there was strong evidence that exposed communication records between the defendants and Qatar, with the purpose of inciting the violence and chaos in 2011.

"The conspirators also worked on undermining the national efforts exerted to control and eventually eliminate the subversive acts of violence," Al Oufi said in a statement.

He said even testimonies by witnesses supported the acts of violence and the extent of the conspiracy between the defendants and Qatari officials.

Bahrain's laws allow the prosecution and the defendants to appeal a ruling at the Court of Appeals and at the Cassation Court.