The opposition Bahrain closes ', ' discussions

on 17 July 2011, last updated at 10: 29 -of-ET, is the largest Shia community is in Bahrain long complained of discrimination in Bahrain Shiite opposition bloc Bahrain's, says it intends to pull out of the democracy protests in the wake of the determination of the Government-led Sunni debates.

The spokesman of the Group of al-Wifaq, said the national dialogue had not been serious, and they will not participate in Sunday's session.

Bloc appealed that the opposition had been granted too few seats in the talks.

The dialogue was launched on 2 July.

Al-Wifaq, the spokesman said the decision to abandon the national dialogue that would jeopardize the ratification-Wifaq.

"We have tried but without success, to serious dialogue," the spokesman told the French news agency AFP.

Announcing the talks Start earlier this month, King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa, said all options were on the table.

Discussions on the work of anti-government protests in the Gulf for months in the Kingdom, which left more than 30 people dead.

Hundreds of opposition supporters have been jailed.

Al-Wifaq has said, is not in the Government of Bahrain the largest Shia sought an invoice but it seeks to reform.

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Bahrain opens the dialogue encouraged by Shiite attendance (AFP)

DUBAI (AFP)-Bahrain Sunni rulers opened a "national dialogue" on Saturday aims to get reforms back on track after a deadly March crackdown on Shiite-led protests, encouraged by an 11-hour decision by the main Shiite opposition bloc to participate.

Parliament Speaker Khalifa Dhahrani told the opening session, which was broadcast by State television that dialogue would have "no prerequisites and no ceiling" on the requirements, which could be raised by delegates.

The aim was to develop "common principles for the relaunch of the political reform process".

Authorities in Sunni-ruled archipelago has come under tremendous pressure from Western allies to open a dialogue with the opposition after they crushed the month-long street protests in the middle of March, with military backing from Bahrain, Arab neighbours in the Gulf.

Sentence triggered an outcry from international human rights groups and so that this year's Bahrain Grand Prix cancelled and the Mexican State credit rating cut.

The main Shiite opposition bloc, the Islamic National Accord Association (Al-Wefaq), ended the dialogue after a prolonged debate on whether to participate, which was resolved only late Friday.

Senior Al-Wefaq official Khalil al Marzooq said the Group's five-strong delegation would maintain its demand for prime minister in future may be majority bloc in Parliament, Al-Wasat newspaper.

Incumbent Prime minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, an uncle of King Hamad, has been in office ever since independence from the United Kingdom in 1971 and is widely despised by the opposition.

"We have no intention of sabotaging the dialogue, but we intend to bring to the requirements for people," was Marzooq quoted as saying.

The United States welcomed the national dialogue and praised Al-Wefags's decision to participate.

"Al-Wefags participation will add an important voice of Bahrain political opposition to a process that has the potential to serve as a vehicle for reform and reconciliation," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

In an address to supporters Friday Al-Wefags leader Sheikh Ali Salman, insisted: "Al-Wefaq will not give up the demands of the people, which is an elected Government, a fair electoral law, and an elected Parliament with full powers."

Under the current Constitution of Bahrain an elected lower House shares legislative powers with an appointed upper House.

Al-Wefaq boycotted parliamentary elections in 2002 in protest against the distribution of competence, as is even though it took part in the 2006 and 2010 the polls, winning a majority of the votes.

Sheikh Salman also demanded the release of all prisoners detained as part of the Government's punishment, insisting his party would '' accept nothing less. "

Security forces have detained hundreds of people in a wave of arrests after the penalty, most of them Shiites.

Small but strategic Bahrain, home base of the fleet the fifth us have experienced repeated bouts of unrest between the Shiite majority and the Sunni ruling family.

The Government's crackdown on Shiite-led protests that broke out in February left 24 people dead.

Saudi Arabia deployed about 1,000 troops and the United Arab Emirates some 500 police to Bahrain in March, liberated Bahrain security forces to carry out the punishment.

Kuwait deployed naval forces to guarantee Bahrain maritime border, a mission that ended last Saturday, according to the official KUNA news agency.

Al-Wefaq had threatened not to participate in the dialogue in protest at being invited to choose only five out of the 300 delegates, although it won all 18 seats which it contested in the 40-seat lower House last year.

Its all MPs resigned in March in protest against the sentence.

After Saturday's formal opening of the dialogue, were delegates are expected to meet three times a week to discuss not only political reform, but a number of issues from economic and social issues to non nationals.

Leaders of the Shiite majority accused the Sunni authorities shall maintain a policy for granting citizenship to Sunni migrants in an attempt to change the Kingdom confessional balance.

 

Bahrain police disperse protest after the dialogue start (AFP)

DUBAI (AFP)-the Bahrain police dispersed a demonstration in the capital Manama shortly after the launch of a "national dialogue" intended to turn a deadly crackdown on Shiite-led protests, since State-run media said.

The demonstrators gathered in Sanabis neighborhood in the North of Manama after the funeral of one of those killed during February-March protests, the official BNA news agency quoted a police spokesman as saying late Saturday.

It did not elaborate on why the funeral had been so delayed.

The police spokesman said that officers scattered "unauthorized" demonstrations not far from Pearl Square, the focus of anti-Government protests earlier this year, after giving the standard warnings.

The main Shiite opposition bloc, the Islamic National Accord Association (Al-Wefaq), decided only on the 11th hour to accept the Sunni authorities invitation to join the dialogue after it withdrew its MPs from the Parliament in March in protest against the sentence.

His decision to attend was welcomed by Washington, which bases its fifth fleet in Bahrain.

"Al-Wefags participation will add an important voice of Bahrain political opposition to a process that has the potential to serve as a vehicle for reform and reconciliation ... and produce reforms which will answer the legitimate desire of the people of Bahrain," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.

The small but strategic Gulf archipelago, joined by a Causeway to Saudi Arabia, have experienced repeated bouts of unrest among its Shiite majority population and a Sunni ruling family.

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Bahrain doctors be prosecuted for helping protesters (AP)

MANAMA, Bahrain – more doctors and nurses who treated wounded anti-government protesters during months of unrest in Bahrain tried in a military court on charges of acting against the State, the Justice Minister said Tuesday.

Khaled bin Ali Al Khalifa said charges against 23 doctors and 24 nurses includes participating in attempts to overthrow the island's Sunni monarchy and participating in illegal rallies.

The message is the latest in the Sunni rulers relentless persecution of the Shiite opposition supporters after weeks of street marches demanding greater freedoms, equal rights and an elected Government in Bahrain.

During the disturbances, medical staff repeatedly said they were professional duty to treat all and strongly rejected claims by the authorities to help anti-government demonstrators were akin to support their case.

Separately, arrested two former members of the country's main Shiite party Al Wefaq, according to a senior party leader, Abdul-Jalil Khalil.

Al Wefaq has been the leading political contributor of Bahrain uprising, which was inspired by the rebellion in Tunisia and Egypt earlier this year.

Bahrain's Sunni rulers declared a State of emergency on 15 March to crush the Shiites demonstrate greater rights and freedoms. Hundreds of demonstrators, opposition leaders, human rights activists and lawyers are detained since emergency rule was introduced. Dozens of doctors, nurses and other medical staff have also been arrested.

U.s. State Department Mark Toner, warned, however, to target opposition politicians were not necessarily the best way for the Government to resolve the current situation.

"There are no security solution to solve the challenges we are facing Bahrain. We call on Bahrain in prisoners ' rights to due process, "he said, adding that he was unaware of the charges will be filed against medical professionals.

At a press conference Tuesday read the Minister of justice charges against the 23 doctors and 24 nurses, which also includes "promoting efforts to overthrow the Government" and "detrimental to the public by spreading false news."

International rights groups say Bahrain targeting medical professionals who treat injured demonstrators at Salmaniya medical centre, which later was flooded by the military.

At least 30 people have died since protests in Bahrain began in mid-February. Among the dead is also four opposition supporters, who died in custody, including a blogger.

On Thursday, were four anti-government protesters convicted of killing two police officers during protests and sentenced to death by a military court. Three other protesters were given life sentences.

The military took over the State-run Salmaniya hospital in March, and doctors and patients said soldiers and police had conducted interrogations and detentions inside the complex.

Physicians for human rights said in a report last month that at least 32 the health sector have been detained since Bahrain declared a State of emergency. Report of the Group of U.S.-based detailed attack on doctors, medical staff and patients "with weapons, beatings and tear gas."

Khalil, Al Wefaq leader, said Tuesday two of its former lawmakers — go through the reviews and Jawad Fairoz — was taken into custody Monday evening. Khalil said he does not know the details of their arrest.

Last month, order the small island nation Sunni rulers also Al Wefaq are dismantled.

Authorities also accused Bahrain main opposition newspaper, Al Wasat, threaten national security. The paper will be forced to shut down next week and three of his former top editors will go on trial on May 19.

Bahrain is home to the u.s. Navy 5th fleet, Washington's main counterbalance against Iran in expanding military influence in the oil-rich Gulf.

Al Wefaq is the most influential party in Bahrain, seven-Member Shiite resistance. 18 members of the party has been elected to the nation's 40-member Parliament last year, even though legislators resigned from the Agency in March to protest Government penalty.

Parliament is the only elected body of Bahrain. It has limited authority since all the country's decisions — including the appointment of Government Ministers — rest with the King.

Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain in more than 200 years.

 

US hails Shiite group to join Bahrain dialogue (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP)-the United States welcomed Bahrain national dialogue, which got under way Saturday, said the participation of the main Shiite opposition block added an "important voice" to the negotiations.

Authorities in Sunni-ruled archipelago had come under enormous pressure from their Western allies to open a dialogue with the opposition, including the Islamic National Accord Association (Al-Wefaq), after security forces crushed protests in the middle of the month-long March with military backing from Gulf neighbours.

Sentence triggered an outcry from international human rights groups and so that this year's Bahrain Grand Prix cancelled and the Mexican State credit rating cut.

Washington was encouraged by the "decision of the Al-Wefaq, Bahrain's largest opposition political society to join the national dialogue recently announced King Hamad," said State Department Mark Tones.

"Al-Wefags participation will add an important voice of Bahrain political opposition to a process that has the potential to serve as a vehicle for reform and reconciliation ... and produce reforms which will respond to the legitimate desire of Bahrain people," he said in a statement.

Dialogue, together with the King's June 29 announcement of an independent Commission to probe the bloody penalty of Röhm's anti-regime protests, is evidence that "the Government of Bahrain takes concrete steps which could contribute to national unity and stability," Toner added.

Small but strategic Bahrain, home base of the fleet the fifth us have experienced repeated bouts of unrest among its Shiite majority population and a Sunni ruling family.

 

Bahrain criticized the Crackdown

21 April 2011, last updated at 19: 17 -ET, Caroline Hawley BBC News rights groups say four people have died, human rights groups are expressing growing concern about the maintenance of security crackdown in Bahrain.

Campaign group Physicians for human rights report has called for an international investigation of the use of "excessive force".

It says, at least among those arrested are 32 medics after the start of the protests.

The Government denied the reports were "false", suggest that the doctors have been arrested or detained without distinction.

However, for those who had been careful in the management of the offices of the block-which has been "overrun with political and sectarian activities"-were the subject of the investigation, the spokesman said.

' Died ' storage

Human rights workers to talk about climate change growing fear of Bahrain.

Physicians for human rights has argued that some doctors have been in the middle of the night in their homes as the legend of the men.

Continue reading be

organizations have so far failed to understand is that some of the most important Bahrain's. day-care services had not been the political and sectarian activities "

End Quote Maysoon Sabkar Government spokesman reported hundreds of people have been detained are doctors and prominent human rights activist. Others have lost their jobs to take part in the protests.

Rights groups, that many of those arrested have been held to their whereabouts Unknown, arbitrary, and that four of the prisoners have died in custody.

Physicians for human rights says, in the opinion of the medics have been allocated for arrest for surrender purposes because they have been treated the wounded Klimaflüchtlinge and see the evidence of abuses by security forces.

The International Committee of the Red Cross to visit prisoners in March after the request. It has been a reply.

For mounting concern in the middle of the Amnesty International has called on Bahrain's, the allies in order to put an end to what it calls by pressing the spiralling human rights crisis.

"Malicious propaganda"

William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, called on the Bahraini authorities to act in accordance with the law.

He said the arrests of opposition figures, the deaths due to torture allegations and parental responsibility, the denial of medical reports were very troubling.

However, Government spokesman Sabkar Maysoon, Physicians for human rights said the allegations were "completely FALSE".

"What have so far failed to understand some of the most important Bahrain's in the management of the locations, including Salmaniya medical complex, services had exceeded the political and sectarian activities," he said.

"After this propaganda of malware, the suspension of the services, medical care, severely endangering the life of isolation and spreading.

"This was completely unacceptable behaviour of the standard. These are responsible for, and organized into a proper, legal manner, "he said.

 

Bahrain

-Whose name means "two seas"-Bahrain was once viewed the ancient Sumerians as the island paradise, which was established on the basis of the wise and the brave, enjoy eternal life.

It was one of the Gulf to find oil and refineries in the build; the first of the United States as it benefited from the oil assets before most of the neighbouring countries.

Bahrain never reached those enjoyed by the Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, production levels and diversify its economy forced.

Bani Utbah, the country has been in the tribe that expelled-persialaisten-the head of the family of the Khalifa since 1783. in 1861, When the agreement was signed with Britain, until independence in 1971, Bahrain had almost a British Protectorate.

The King is the Supreme authority and ruling Sunni Muslim family members hold the key political and military action. There are no long-running tensions in the Muslim Sunnis and Shi'ite Bahrain's maximum. Sometimes these are the roiskunut appears in the unrest.

In 2001, Bahrainis was strongly in favour of United Kingdom-by now-the proposals of the constitutional monarchy in the country to become elected Parliament and an independent judiciary.

Elections due at the request of a member of Parliament for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City 40 alternates, of the Council. It was the first such poll in almost 30 years. The new body included a dozen of Shi'ite MPs.

The country has enjoyed, by increasing the freedom of expression and human rights monitors say the situation has improved. However, opposition groups and the Replica will continue to press for political reforms, including the powers of the elected Assembly.

Inspired by the collected for several days in the middle of protestors Manama February 2011, thousands of popular uprisings that toppled leaders of Tunisia and Egypt. The King responded to public anger by some political prisoners, and several people prosessoitiin the security forces, which are incompatible with the common market.

Bahrain-about 30 Islands in the chain-has been the territory of the tourists, who take advantage of the relaxed social environment haven. Close ally the United States, it is the home of the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

Full name: The Kingdom of Bahrain population: 807,000 (UN, 2010) capital: Manama region: 717 sq km (277 sq miles) Major language: Arabia Major religion: Islam life expectancy: 75 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN) monetary unit: , 1 Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils Main exports: oil and aluminium for petroleum products, the GNP per capita: US $ 25,420 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: . bh the code for the international phone number: + 973

King: Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Sheikh Hamad, the title changed to the Kingdom of Bahrain on their computer to the Kingdom of the emirate in February 2002.

Sheikh Hamad succeeded his father in the year 1999

He had been crown prince since 1964, when his father Sheikh Isa dies in March 1999, he became Emir.

Born in 1950, he attended public school in Cambridge, England, and went to study in the Mons Officer cadet school, Aldershot, England, and the US army command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1968 he founded and became the President of the Bahrain Defense Force Commander-in-chief (BDF). He served as Deputy Minister of defence in 1971, 1988.

The Government has over the years, with the largest Shiite protests experienced demonstrators, saying Sunni minority communities as they ran out of homes, you can choose to turn off, health care and Government jobs.

The country saw a wave of anti-government unrest in 2011-inspired by Tunisia and Egypt and uprisings. The Government uses violence in attempts to stop the protests, in which about 30 mid April to the kill.

Is a lively private press, but most of the Bahrain radio and television stations are State. 2008-the investigation it was found that almost 99% of households had a satellite Receiver.

Press law guarantees journalists the right to act independently, but they are liable to jail terms for criminal offences which includes the Kingdom and self-censorship is carried out in the course of the offensive.

The BBC World Service is available on FM in Manama (101 MHz in English; 103.8 in Arabic).

June 2010, Bahrain had 649,300 internet users (InternetWorldStats.com).

Strict filtering is directed at the political, human rights, religious material, and content shall be deemed to be obscene vanhenemiselle. "Many websites run by national or international non-governmental organisations, are not available," Reporters without borders notes.

In The Press

Tv

Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; operates five terrestrial TV networks Radio-Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; acts of the General programme for the Arabic, the second with the program of cultural and local programmes, the Holy Koran programme, sports Service, English audio, Radio Bahrain FM-private, Indian listeners

 

United States and Bahrain: how to talk just hard enough with an ally (Time.com)

Tuesday-met just seven days after his country lifted 13 weeks of emergency-Bahrain's Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, separately with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. White House statement said President supported al-Khalifa "ongoing efforts to initiate a national dialogue" and that "Bahrain stability depends on the universal rights of the people of Bahrain, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."

Come after Obama lashed in Bahrain violent punishment on peaceful demonstrators in a speech on May 19, his support was a public change of course, that appear to repair ties with a key Middle East ally. It also appeared to signal that America will stop his public criticism of Bahrain Government itself as it invites the Sunni-dominated regime to initiate talks with opposition leaders. (See photos of the demonstrators sent from Pearl Square).

Meetings are "a shift in tone and indicate a softening of the U.S. approach to Bahrain," said Shadi Hamid, Research Director of the Brookings Doha Center, "and show that the United States is not only seriously putting real constant pressure on the regime right now. The impact of Tuesday's visit has been to put a band aid on the tensions between the two countries and is, Hamid says, "green light" to the Bahrain Government to go about his business without criticism or interference by the United States. Business includes both the reopening of the country to international trade, fear of unrest in the spring, and the closing stages of a months long violent punishment on the demonstrators, who this week as security forces repeatedly attack Shi'a enclaves with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Since March 13 when Saudi tanks rolled in Manama and security forces began arresting any connection with anti-Government movements-including journalists and health workers-the US Government has faced a conundrum. How snub Obama an ally, which houses the Navy's fifth fleet in a geopolitical arena, which includes its regional nemesis, Iran? (See photos of penalty in Bahrain).

"Bahrain has always been ground zero America's inability to reconcile interests and ideals in Arab spring," said Hamid. "It is difficult for Management to handle and they really have not found a way yet. Obama has also come under fire from international rights groups and Bahrain's Shi'as, which has repeatedly said his and Clinton's sporadic criticism was just lip service and that both should have taken a public stance against the tougher regime's violent tactics.

The White House said Tuesday that al Khalifa urged Obama to follow up on "the Government's obligation to ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights will be held responsible," a marked shift in tone from May 19, when he lambasted the regime's destruction of more than 30 Shi'a mosques.

"We have called on the Obama administration to highlight strongly and publicly and in no uncertain terms about the violations of human rights that occurred," says His Hogrefe, Chief policy officer at Physicians for human rights, which this week refers to the conviction of 48 doctors and nurses if ministering to wounded demonstrators led to their prosecution for participating in the protests. "We hope that there would have been a more public discourse-it is important for the region to see that we measure human rights with the same standards everywhere, that we are not just condemning Syria, Libya constantly but let our friends from easy." (See if Obama speech help Bahrain reformists).

The u.s. Government the goal this week was to stress the need for immediate talks on the reform between the Bahrain Government and opposition officials. Although the Crown Prince said he would be open to meeting with Shi'a leaders, repeating Obama, in his speech may activists frustration that it was impossible to open negotiations, when most of the opposition leadership was in jail. "What is driving this visit to D.C., is that [Obama and Clinton] tries to tell Shi'a actually negotiate. And tell the Royal family to negotiate, "said Thomas Ferguson, senior researcher at the Roosevelt Institute. "The phrase was blunt." Obama solidarity is crucial for the relatively moderate Crown Prince, whose influence in Bahrain has fallen as he fights the growing number of harsh extremists within its own Government.

Is U.s. relationship not only with Bahrain but Saudi Arabia, if soldiers allied with the Bahrain security officers in quelling ønations revolution in March on the games moving forward. Many see the conflict in Bahrain as a proxy war between the Saudis and Iran, with the latter seeks to seize on any perceived weakness in the relationship between oil-rich Saudi and America. (See how Bahrain sits between Saudi Arabia and Iran).

"The United States has a fundamental interest in keeping its relations with the Saudis on an angle and Bahrain is its biggest problem," said Joost Hiltermann, Middle East, Deputy Director of the International Crisis Group. Obama "that Iran will take advantage of instability in the region. The current situation of the Iranian interests, feeding because the more you suppress the Shi'a, the more they radicalize and seek external sponsors. So it is important for the United States to put pressure on the regime to open up political space and to permit the participation of all its people. " This week, "they insist on the need for dialogue without preconditions as an inclusive exercise that leads to genuine political reform."

"Rights groups can say it is not doing enough to publicly criticise its close ally" Hiltermann continues. "But the Government believes that private conversations are more useful in this situation than public scorn." Before Clinton meeting Tuesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner alluded to the possibility of criticism-and repeated the Government's months-long position on its public treatment of its island ally. "We will, of course, increase our concerns," he told journalists. "Bahrain is a friend and partner, but we can be honest with you, as well as". Although opposition leaders has long shake stronger public rebukes from the Americans, most now side with Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the official opposition party al Wefaq, which said last month that the Group was ready for negotiations. After months of violence, it is likely the country's Shi'a majority not fault U.S. leaders to keep their discussions with the largely private-as long as the promises of the conversations are kept, Crown Prince and tear gas to stop counting on Manama.

 

Bahrain given till June 3 for the final Grand Prix decision (AFP)

PARIS (AFP)-motor racing in the dom body FIA said Tuesday that it would give the organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix until June 3 to show they could stage the event.

"Federation Internationale de l?Automobile (FIA) has granted Bahrain motor Federation and Bahrain International Circuit extension until June 3rd, the date of the FIA World motor Sport Council in Barcelona, "body revealed.

FIA added that "this decision was taken after consultation with the relevant authorities in Bahrain and formula one management, international promoter."

Bahrain, own Federation had chosen not to stage the inaugural event of the season at 13. March at the Sakhir circuit due to political unrest in the Arab State after extensive anti-Government protests.

At the beginning of March, the FIA urged the authorities in Bahrain say of May 1, if they would be able to stage the race this season.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestones, who had the section object to the idea of race will be held in November, had earlier proposed to give Bahrainis a little more time.

The Kingdom is controlled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, but has a Shiite majority and weeks of unrest have seen hundreds of arrests.

Government plans to run four Shiites for alleged murder of two policemen during anti-Government protests in March has also fuelled fears of increased tensions in the Gulf State.

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Prominent Bahrain rights activist goes on trial (Reuters)

MANAMA (Reuters) – a prominent Bahrain human rights activist went on military trial on Thursday, his daughters said, after the Gulf Arab Kingdom launched a penalty on the demonstrators.

The Sunni-led Bahrain experienced the worst unrest since 1990 in the last two months when the demonstrators, mainly from the country's namely Shi'ite majority, took to the streets as Arab uprisings spread throughout the region.

The demonstrations prompted Bahrain King to introduce a State of emergency and invite troops from the Sunni-ruled neighbors.

Abdulhadi al-Mohammed were arrested with two sons-in-law earlier this month as part of a Government penalty enforced with checkpoints across the city and villages namely Shi'ite.

Hundreds of people, many of them opposition activists and politicians, have been arrested. The Government says only those who are accused of committing crimes have been arrested, and that all allegations will be investigated.

"Legal proceedings against him (Mohammed) was started today but we family members were not allowed to enter the Court. I do not know what charges are brought against him, "said his daughter Zainab al-Mohammed.

"My father called in the evening. He is not fine. I think he has a foot injury, because he barely able to speak, "she said.

"He kept saying repression is great," said Mohammed, who on Thursday stopped a week-long hunger strike to demand the release of her family members.

Mohammed, are fine in exile for twelve years before he was allowed to return under a general amnesty for a few years ago, was severely beaten after his arrest, said Bahrain Centre for human rights.

He had been imprisoned for political disagreement in 2004 and later pardoned by the King.

A rolling penalty has targeted Bahrainis, who participated in the weeks street protests calling for more freedoms, an end to discrimination and a constitutional monarchy in the island State, which is a U.S.-ally and home to the United States's fifth fleet.

Head of Gulf forces called by Bahrain, Maj. Gen. Mutlaq bin Salem al-Azaima, denied allegations by some namely Shi'ite activists to his men to suppress the opposition or to attack namely Shi'ite mosques.

"We challenge anyone to prove that we entered any street or injure a citizen or resident. The force will not interfere in to bring order or (do) what is sought to destroy mosques, "he said in comments made by Bahrain governmental media.

United States and other Western countries have expressed muted criticism but mainly kept quiet because of the strategic importance of Gulf oil-producing region.

Nervous namely Shi'ite-led uprising to neighbouring countries, in particular the Sunni Saudi Arabia who feared protests spread further and embolden own Shi'ites in the Eastern Province, home to most of the country's large oil resources.

Gulf Arab rulers have accused non-Arab namely Shi'ite Iran interference in Bahrain after it condemned the punishment and accused Saudi Arabia of "playing with fire" in the region. Shiites make up at least 60 percent of Bahrain, indigenous population of approximately 600,001.

 

 

Iran says Bahrain made the strategic error of the force (AFP)

TEHRAN (AFP)-Iran said Wednesday that Bahrain had made a "strategic error" by asking the Gulf troops to help the success when you try to get rid of the pro-democracy protests of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, such as accusing Washington move.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi told the official IRNA news agency Sunni Muslim Shiite majority-ruled, but the Gulf Kingdom had made a "strategic and political" blunder that cost would be its "legitimacy."

The armed forces of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Monday at the invitation of the monarchy for Bahrain to help the tuoteuttamisesta anti-regime led by the Shiite Klimaflüchtlinge.

"Such actions will increase tension and undermine regional stability and security," said Davari. "And if such an inconsiderate and illegal activities have become part of normal practice, the area becomes a hotbed of conflict and hostility to the phenomenon."

King Hamad on Tuesday declared the three-month State of emergency, to curb the unrest and restore the order of the military component of a broad mandate.

On Wednesday authorities of Manama, the capital of the Pearl Square and financial district, after the curfew, the peaceful pro-democracy Protest Camp cracked the security forces.

Three protesters and two policemen on Wednesday prosessoitiin, and the third policeman died of wounds sustained in the past, the opposition and official sources said.

Mainly Shiite Iran was quickly criticized for its support of the United States in the arc-foe intervention and the violent military crackdown on Bahrain, the US Fifth Fleet at home.

"Expedition is very foul and doomed to experience and regional Nations to organize the American Government responsible for this," Ahmadinejad told reporters after a cabinet meeting Wednesday.

"The United States seeks to save the Zionist regime and smother the popular movement" in the region.

"And because it supports some of the (regional) Governments," said Ahmadinejad, the Presidency, based on the Tehran and Washington have reached new heights under.

"Unfortunately, today the population is the mobilisation against Bahrain, which is the very ground, unjustifiable and incomprehensible Act. How can those who are using weapons against them, are regulated by the people you want? "he said.

Ahmadinejad called on the Bahraini Shiite opposition officials, most of the "legitimate" demands of the profit.

"the 700,000 are among the 600 000 People Protested and, where necessary, changed. People should be respected and reforms should be carried out, "he said. "Think about your future."

On Tuesday, ambassadors from Manama to remember its Tehran, Iran, citing "a blatant interference" in its affairs.

Tehran responded in kind Wednesday "Protest of the Government of Bahrain for its people, the killing of the" sent to the Government's Web site announcement said dolat. ir.

The main Shiite opposition Alliance says it wants a constitutional monarchy but radical Shiite groups have said they want to get rid of the Sunni dynasty, which is found in Bahrain, more than 200 years.

King Hamad has offered dialogue, new, competent to Parliament and other reforms, but the opposition has refused to sit down in talks until the Government resigns.

Ahmadinejad also issued a veiled warning to Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi to remember the former dictator Saddam Hussein in Iraq, which attacks the Iranian and Kuwaiti before the 2003 US invasion of Poland in his country, the State broadcasting service reported.

"The United States does not have a reliable and faithful friend to you, and so far it has sacrificed all its friends, including Saddam," he said, without directly naming Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.

Iran's revolutionary guards, said Washington would pay a heavy range, in support of Bahrain, the repression of Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa, IRNA reported.

Yadollah Javani, the Deputy General Commander of the order, which is responsible for political affairs, "the dispatch of troops to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been carried out in Bahrain in support of the community and the coordination of the United States, State-of-the-art," said.

"Bahrain protests Washington, one of the main advantages of the snap-in is a danger," he said, adding that the United States loses an important base of "area", where the Bahraini dynasty is overthrown.

Bahrain expels Iranian diplomatic tit for tat move (AFP)

TEHRAN (AFP)-Iran on Sunday called on the Bahraini diplomat to leave the Islamic Republic of reprisal is one of the diplomats in Manama, the official expulsion of the country, the IRNA news agency reported.

"After expelling diplomats, in particular, one of our reprisal, attache, Embassy of Bahrain's is to be summoned and told that one of the diplomats from the embassies of Iran, Bahrain will leave the Government's inconsistent and incomprehensible actions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

"The responding to the legitimate demands of the population is guaranteed by the Governments of the stability and permanence of the repression of peaceful protests, while at the same time and only aggravates the crisis and the actions of the illogical and deepen the wounds," he said.

Iran on Wednesday recalled its Ambassador to Bahrain, "the Protest, the Government of Bahrain for its people," after the killing in Manama from Tehran to remember its Ambassador, the vines of Iran "a blatant interference" in its affairs.

Tehran said Manama had made a "strategic error" by asking the forces to the Gulf, a small Kingdom, the pro-democracy protests, a success when you try to get rid of.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi told the official IRNA news agency Sunni Muslim Shiite majority to close but the Bahrain adopted a "strategic and political" blunder that cost would be its "legitimacy."

At least three people died when security forces firing TEAR GAS and orphaned sinalakay months old pro-democracy camp, Central Pearl Square roundabout, the capital of Bahrain on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people, was seriously wounded in the unrest and the Government has been accused of closing of the international law away from hospitals and doctors, assaulting the wounded who tried to tend to the crimes.

And the rulers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and urged other Gulf States to contribute to the security forces, a move which infuriated Iran and caused outrage from the mainly Shiite opposition in the small island-State.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday with the phone, the apparent "the necessity of foreign troops to leave Bahrain," which is also home to the US fifth fleet, IRNA said.

Bahrain raises the stakes

15 March 2011, last updated at 17: 24 By State-of-the-art ET Frank Gardner BBC security contact person of the Anti-government Klimaflüchtlinge say the move as "invasion" of Bahrain is the tipping point. The additional 1 500 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates troops to help restore order in the communities of al-Khalifa family has dramatically raised the small Gulf Kingdom, the stakes.

It is a controversial and somewhat desperate measure as the police and security forces of their own Bahrain are patently incapable of handling a willingness on the part of the anti-government protests to date.

Follows a series of behind-closed-doors discussions between key figures within each of these countries in crisis ".

This has led to the Gulf rulers would like to present the almost "an internal family matter," one or the other fraternal country to another helping. In practice, it is an unprecedented and potentially very Prostatitis. How is it crashed with the various stakeholders?

The opposition leader have been quick to condemn the "invasion" of this meeting, "occupation" and "an act of war". Klimaflüchtlinge fear, they now have foreign troops of excessive violence. They do not accept the Government's assumption that the sets are called the key sites such as the security measures of the oil storage locations, points out that they have attacked them.

Social networks sites such as Twitter and Facebook, a brilliant, such as the insane comments this one on Tuesday: "is it to say, the first ever held in the history of the Bahrain's war was responsible for bringing any action against the peaceful citizens?"

In the case of the al Khalifa family and the State media has enabled many of the statements, saying, this was the necessary action to restore law and order.

Bahrain says Saudi Arabia needed reinforcements to restore law and order

The night before the Saudi Arabian forces went to the Government official told the BBC: "the situation has stabilized, because this is getting out. Hopefully, the rule of law can be enforced and discussions [with opposition leader] may be obtained from the running. "

Is almost certainly differences of opinion, which the family. Seven Klimaflüchtlinge prosessoitiin last month, it was the crown prince of personal action, which led to the withdrawal of security forces and the search for dialogue and compromise to be stepped up.

But not to other family, which implements the kiristyvään line "in its" home market that unless these protests are down ruthlessly throughout the dynasty, they could be threatened.

A set of analysts believe that Bahrain had little choice but to call the Saudi forces, Saudi Arabia authoritarian rulers was adamant that the unrest to be killed before it roiskunut into the Shiite dominated by Saudi Arabia's oil-producing and the Eastern Province.

There has been some small troubles already, but nothing compared to what could erupt if the neighbouring Shiite Bahrain saw a full-scale revolution. Saudi Arabia is Bahrain's mainly in the Gulf ally and the two countries often work in concert.

Iran has called the Saudi Arabian forces in Bahrain, the introduction of "unfair". Bahrain has responded by saying, effectively, "and" as available "basis, taking into account their own company," and has withdrawn its Ambassador to Tehran Protest. The Government of Bahrain has long suspected Iran's persistent attempts to Bahrain, "the fifth column" subversives, but critics say this is just an excuse to round up its domestic opponents.

Although many Bahrainis have been appalled and alarmed by the arrival of foreign troops, the other, perhaps, did a bizarrely sigh of relief. They are, I hope, it is assigned to the Asian Klimaflüchtlinge illegal and intimidated, sometimes the checkpoints, which has grown from around the country, the emissions permits the use of the business and choking the economy.

The Shiite Bahrainis to complain to the local gangs to reduce manning checkpoints, you can see the certificates of the persons and taking of the person demanding back to anyone who is from the Sunni minority.

However, this pales next to the horrific casualties caused by the Klimaflüchtlinge when they are brought into the hospital, you must have the following reports.

Many want to anything else than the elected Parliament with full executive powers, but the others are being radicalised as part of the Kingdom of demanding and perhaps the entire Court, leaving the family violence.

Bahrain calls for troops to rein

17 March 2011, at 11: 45 ET, BahrainThe UN ' Smoking ' bullets last updated human rights chief condemned by the security forces against Bahrain is governed by the laws of the Klimaflüchtlinge the use of force, "shocking".

Navi Pillay said the reports of the military takeover, the hospital was a blatant violation of international law.

He called on the authorities of the Member State in which their forces on the Rhine and the arrested men are beaten or killed in the reports.

At least six opposition figures have reportedly been detained in Bahrain the night raids and the soldiers are back on the streets of the capital Manama.

Anti-Klimaflüchtlinge in the city centre to the left of the government at least three civilians and three police officers died Wednesday at the teloitukset.

Riot police closed off the main hospital in Manama: n and some smaller health centres and rights activists said the medics were to have won, as they tried to help the wounded on the streets.

"We have reports of arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, Hakkaamisia and Klimaflüchtlinge and medical personnel, hospitals and health centres, according to the different security forces of taking the" Ms Pillay, human rights, the UN High Commissioner for refugees wrote was published in the Thursday statement.

"This is a shocking and illegal."

The Government said previously, it was taken to hospital because it had become the stronghold's argument.

Deductions

Klimaflüchtlinge the largest Shia population, mostly from, say, the violence which denies Bahrain's Sunni rulers.

BBC: Caroline Hawley Manama, says, the streets are calm but very tense, soldiers Patrolling after the overnight curfew.

Continue reading be added to the main story of King Hamad, 61, has been controlled by the 1999Population, was published; the land area of 717 sq km or 100 times less than that of the Republic of Ireland with a population of median 30.4 years and the literacy rate is 91%, youth unemployment is 19.6% of the gross national income per capita: $ 25,420 (World Bank 2009) for the rights groups said riot police had fired TEAR GAS Thursday to disperse a small protests in Shiite village in Daih, the capital, which is a key area to the West side of the argument.

They said roads near the villages of Sanabis and Jidhafs was denied access to military vehicles.

State television read a military statement said, "the objective of the programmes of the leaders," was arrested in foreign countries, and called for the system are.

And to say how many opposition figures were arrested, and it was to rename them.

Groups and the rights of the arrested activists of the opposition, said the men include the Haq party, which had been a test day to try to overthrow the Presidency, even though the charges were removed to calm tensions after unrest began to bid, Hassan Mushaima and Abdeljalil al-Singace.

Moderate constitutional monarchy Klimaflüchtlinge call, and the Government of the United States cessation of repression and corruption. However, Haq-party wishes to set up a Republic.

Shiite activist Abdel Wahhab Hussein, Ibrahim Sharif, who leads the Party of the Sunni maallistunut, was also arrested.

Guns pointed out

Ibrahim Matar, a former opposition MP-Bahrain's the majority of the Shia, who recently resigned in Protest at the crackdown on the BBC, said the Government had completely ignored the message from the United States that it was the wrong time.

US-Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also criticized the excessive use of force and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for dialogue.

Mr. Ibrahim told the BBC: "we refuse to enter a dialogue, even if our heads drew guns."

Bahrain, which has a population of 800,000, and is the Navy's Fifth Fleet home, sweeping wave of civil unrest in the Arab countries, the instability of money. Protests began last month.

On Tuesday, King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa declared the three-month State of emergency and Saudi troops were called to keep order.

The next day at dawn to move troops, tanks and helicopters, to remove the central square and a Pearl Klimaflüchtlinge was made several weeks.

The crackdown on protests in sympathy with the request is from the Shias in the region, including Iran and Lebanon, where a few hundred of the people of Bahrain and the denunciation of the Treaty on the Saudi Arabian authorities through the sudden rise.

Iran has withdrawn its Ambassador to Bahrain, Mahdi Aghajafrari Klimaflüchtlinge anti-government Protest in Manama.

On Tuesday, Bahrain's Ambassador to Tehran after Iran condemns was cancelled by the Saudi Arabian troops arrival in Bahrain.

Bahrain's Nebula is closely allied to the Kings of Saudi Arabia. It has long suspected Iran of encouraging the Klimaflüchtlinge, which are mostly Shia majority.

Send pictures yourpics@bbc.co.uk and videos, or they 61124 text (UK) or the Service Centre 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can download here.

Bahrain and Iran expel diplomats from the national

20 March 2011, last updated at 20: 09 -ET to the authorities of Bahrain is trying to take control of the anti-government protests in Iran is a country of Bahrain diplomatic responses to move constantly, in the event of a dispute, the anti-government protests in Bahrain are in the middle.

Bahrain had previously expelled Iran's charge d'affaires.

Tehran is using the other Gulf States accused Sunni rulers Bahrain's forces take control of the mainly Shia Klimaflüchtlinge.

Bahrain has accused Iran, the Gulf of its internal affairs in the absence of the main Shiite.

Both countries withdrew their ambassadors to the Committee earlier this week.

"After expelling diplomats, in particular, one of our reprisal, attache, Embassy of Bahrain's is to be summoned and told that one of the diplomats from the embassies of Iran, Bahrain will leave the Government's inconsistent and incomprehensible actions" of the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

Refer to the legitimate needs of the population ", as the case may be," he said, "the repression of inconsistent measures and peaceful protests only aggravates the crisis and deepening the wounds."

On Wednesday, at least three people, the authorities of Bahrain prosessoitiin deleted months old Protest Camp Pearl Roundabout in Manama.

A brief Protest in Manama on Sunday, the main opposition group, appealed to the UN Wafeq to protect against violence and pressure forces the United States, to help the other Gulf States to leave Bahrain.

Under the leadership of the opposition groups, the Wafeq, they said, with the Government hold talks until the troops were removed from the streets and the prisoners are released.

Bahrain's of the Council of Ministers, said it regretted the "negative" of the Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman dialogue offer to answer.

Some 1,000 troops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to 500 arrived in Bahrain on Monday at the invitation of the Government.

Bahrain

-Whose name means "two seas"-Bahrain was once viewed the ancient Sumerians as the island paradise, which was established on the basis of the wise and the brave, enjoy eternal life.

It was one of the Gulf to find oil and refineries in the build; the first of the United States as it benefited from the oil assets before most of the neighbouring countries.

Bahrain never reached those enjoyed by the Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, production levels and diversify its economy forced.

Bani Utbah, the country has been in the tribe that expelled-persialaisten-the head of the family of the Khalifa since 1783. in 1861, When the agreement was signed with Britain, until independence in 1971, Bahrain had almost a British Protectorate.

The King is the Supreme authority and ruling Sunni Muslim family members hold the key political and military action. There are no long-running tensions in the Muslim Sunnis and Shi'ite Bahrain's maximum. Sometimes these are the roiskunut appears in the unrest.

In 2001, Bahrainis was strongly in favour of United Kingdom-by now-the proposals of the constitutional monarchy in the country to become elected Parliament and an independent judiciary.

Elections due at the request of a member of Parliament for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City 40 alternates, of the Council. It was the first such poll in almost 30 years. The new body included a dozen of Shi'ite MPs.

The country has enjoyed, by increasing the freedom of expression and human rights monitors say the situation has improved. However, opposition groups and the Replica will continue to press for political reforms, including the powers of the elected Assembly.

Inspired by the collected for several days in the middle of protestors Manama February 2011, thousands of popular uprisings that toppled leaders of Tunisia and Egypt. The King responded to public anger by some political prisoners, and several people prosessoitiin the security forces, which are incompatible with the common market.

Bahrain-about 30 Islands in the chain-has been the territory of the tourists, who take advantage of the relaxed social environment haven. Close ally the United States, it is the home of the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

Full name: The Kingdom of Bahrain population: 807,000 (UN, 2010) capital: Manama region: 717 sq km (277 sq miles) Major language: Arabia Major religion: Islam life expectancy: 75 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN) monetary unit: , 1 Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils Main exports: oil and aluminium for petroleum products, the GNP per capita: US $ 25,420 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: . bh the code for the international phone number: + 973

King: Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Sheikh Hamad, the title changed to the Kingdom of Bahrain on their computer to the Kingdom of the emirate in February 2002.

Sheikh Hamad succeeded his father in the year 1999

He had been crown prince since 1964, when his father Sheikh Isa dies in March 1999, he became Emir.

Born in 1950, he attended public school in Cambridge, England, and went to study in the Mons Officer cadet school, Aldershot, England, and the US army command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1968 he founded and became the President of the Bahrain Defense Force Commander-in-chief (BDF). He served as Deputy Minister of defence in 1971, 1988.

The Government has over the years, with the largest Shiite protests experienced demonstrators, saying Sunni minority communities as they ran out of homes, you can choose to turn off, health care and Government jobs.

Is a lively private press, but most of the Bahrain radio and television stations are State. 2008-the investigation it was found that almost 99% of households had a satellite Receiver.

Press law guarantees journalists the right to act independently, but they are liable to jail terms for criminal offences which includes the Kingdom and self-censorship is carried out in the course of the offensive.

The BBC World Service is available on FM in Manama (101 MHz in English; 103.8 in Arabic).

June 2010, Bahrain had 649,300 internet users (InternetWorldStats.com).

Strict filtering is directed at the political, human rights, religious material, and content shall be deemed to be obscene vanhenemiselle. "Many websites run by national or international non-governmental organisations, are not available," Reporters without borders notes.

In The Press

Tv

Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; operates five terrestrial TV networks Radio-Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) mode-then run; acts of the General programme for the Arabic, the second with the program of cultural and local programmes, the Holy Koran programme, sports Service, English audio, Radio Bahrain FM-private, Indian listeners

News Agencies

The Saudi role in Bahrain brings regional stakes (AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – are battle of Bahrain is no longer merely on its shores.

It is now in Tehran, where the leader of the Friday prayers, cursed the "enemy" power, which includes the Saudi-led military reinforcements to Bahrain embattled Sunni monarchy. It is in Iraq, with Shiites marching under banners pledging to join the fight in the Gulf Kingdom.

When Saudi troops and other Gulf forces moved to Bahrain this week, the conflict suddenly was pushed on a larger scene with larger bets — and in the process, become perhaps the most complex conflict in the Arab world season of upheaval.

Tiny Bahrain — a speck just off the Saudi coast on the world map — is now an arena for some of the most crucial Middle East tensions: heavyweight rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the regional fallout from Shiite anger and Washington's efforts to influence its strategic Gulf allies counter Iran's growing ambitions of the Middle East.

"Bahrain is more crises wrapped into one package," said Theodore Karasik, expert Regional Affairs on Dubai-based Institute for the Middle East and the Gulf military analysis.

Rebellion in Yemen and Libya also have very important issues in the balance, including Moammar Gadhafi eccentric regime and U.S.-led fight against an al Qæda expires fate in Yemeni basins. But Bahrain unrest resonates even broader.

It is both a bitter domestic duel — between Sunni rulers and majority Shiites — and a crossroads for big three Gulfs: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States.

Rapid events of last week in Bahrain pushed each in different directions.

Saudi Arabia roared into action, leading a 1 500-strong Gulf force support Bahrain reeling Sunni dynasty after more than a month of protests from Shiites seeking to break the Royal family 200-year-old grip on power.

It was the Golf version of a rescue mission: to believe that any further progress of demonstrators could embolden threats against Sunni leaders around the region and allow the Shiite power Iran to carve out a foothold on Saudi Arabia doorstep.

Iran strongly condemned the military intervention and withdrew its Ambassador back to Bahrain. Iran's ally Hizbollah in Lebanon also crawled insults in Saudi Arabia, and Shiites in Iraq have staged a series of protest marches.

U.S. officials, meanwhile, is caught in a bind policy. Washington has opposed to the introduction of Golf military power in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy 5th fleet. But the United States also stands behind Bahrain leaders, who say that they invited troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"Regardless of the United States says the bottom line, Washington still supports Bahrain regime and cannot go too far in criticizing the main ally Saudi Arabia," says Shadi Hamid, Director of research at The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. "Bahrain is a major problem now than just Bahrain".

Nicholas Burns, a former top State Department diplomat with long experience in the region, said the military deployment "opened up a clear division of tasks between the Saudi royal family and the American Government on how to most effectively respond to demonstrations for greater openness and freedom in the Arab world."

"This is a risk for the Saudis as their troop deployments can end up with toughening determination of demonstrators in Bahrain," he said.

It is unclear how much the Saudi-led forces have actively participated in the enforce Bahrain martial law-style rule, which was imposed by the Bahrain's king on Tuesday.

Security forces flew the red and white flag of Bahrain in the landmark Pearl Square in Manama after overrunning a protest camp. Military vehicles with Saudi marking was not seen on the main control points where forces wearing a black ski mask.

But Shiite protesters claimed to have heard the distinctive Saudi accent among the security forces during clashes this week — although Bahrain police and the armed forces includes many Sunni Arabs from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere given citizenship to try to compensate for the Shiite population advantage.

Shortly after the Saudi forces entered Bahrain, gathered a crowd of Shiite Muslims outside the main State hospital in a ragtag resistance force. They are carried out in what they could find: scraps of wood, tubes, a butter knife.

"Who will decide your future?" shouted one protester. "Them or us?"

Now, the presence of the Saudi-led forces makes any event in Bahrain a potential regional flashpoint, which could drag the United States around the Middle East, the Shiites and other portraying Bahrain as under occupation of one of Washington's main Arab allies.

In Tehran, a senior Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, his national broadcast Friday sermon calling on Bahrain, Shiites "resist against the enemy until you die WINS." Outside, demonstrators called beans Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa "kills" and drew analogies to Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

A banner reading: "death to the House of Saud."

Bahrain Thursday lashed at Iran for "lobbying" on behalf of the Gulf Kingdom's Shiites, who represent about 70 percent of the population of Bahrain.

In Baghdad, marched followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr under banners promised to join fellow Shiites in Bahrain to fight the Saudi-led forces. In the meantime suspended the level Shiite cleric in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shiite religious teachings schools across Iraq to show solidarity with Bahrain demonstrators.

"There are real massacres taking place in Bahrain," said Sheikh Maitham al-Jamri, who said he was a Bahrain Shiite cleric, demonstrators in Sadr City Baghdad's. "But if they cut us chunks and burn US 70 times, we will not stop our calls for change. If all communications: was blocked in Bahrain, the people of Iraq and Lebanon calls vote "no, no to injustice!" can be heard aloud. "

Around 50 protesters gathered Thursday outside the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, shouting "get out of Bahrain" before a visit by the Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Saudi's King Abdullah gave no mention of the military force in Bahrain in a three-minute speech on Saudi tv Friday before the announcement of a new bonanza jobs, cash and housing in attempts to placate reformers call for challenges of his autocratic regime.

"The Saudi fears was a kind of ripple effect," said Toby Jones, an expert in Bahrain issues at Rutgers University. "Bahrain is seen as simply too important not to intervene, they argued, the ruling Sunni fraternity around the Gulf was vulnerable and it was time to act."

___

Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Bushra Juhi in Baghdad contributed to this report.

UN warns Bahrain after protests penalty (AFP)

MANAMA (AFP)-UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned Bahrain, his sentence on anti-government protesters violating international law after his human rights chief spoke of the "shocking and illegal" abuse.

Ban called King Hamad on Thursday to express his "deep concern" about the use of force, which allegedly includes security forces preventing doctors from treating wounded demonstrators in the small Gulf State.

The Secretary general "expressed its deepest concern at reports of excessive and indiscriminate use of force by security forces and police in Bahrain against unarmed civilians, including allegedly against medical personnel," said a UN statement.

He also noted "that such actions could be in conflict with international humanitarian and human rights law."

UN Chief spoke out after a bloody penalty on the Shiite-led demonstrators from the U.S.-backed Sunni Muslim rulers. Bahrain is home to the US fifth fleet.

Violence in the strategic Kingdom has alarmed Washington and triggered fierce condemnation from Iran, Shiite leaders in Iraq and Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Valerie Amos, the UN Deputy Secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs, earlier called on the security forces "to refrain from the excessive use of force, and to respect medical facilities and to ensure the treatment of wounded people."

UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay earlier Thursday said the possible adoption of the security forces of hospitals and medical facilities was a "flagrant violation of international law."

"There are reports of arbitrary arrests, killings, beatings of demonstrators and medical personnel and the acquisition of hospitals and medical centres of various security forces," she said.

"This is shocking and illegal behaviour."

Dissidents had been rounded up at gunpoint in midnight raids and armed police stood outside the Manamas main hospital on Thursday, the text wrapping feature reports authorities were marketing plan doctors and refuse treatment to the wounded.

Unbowed, pledged to press on with "peaceful" demonstrations in the Shiite-led opposition undaunted by the deadly military force against them.

"We will not give to the army," said the Shiite cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al-Wefaq association. "We insist on the peaceful aspect of our activities, and we should not be dragged into ... confrontations.

The opposition called for fresh protests "in the areas of praying" rather than out on the streets after Muslim weekly prayers Friday and occupations on Saturday.

Fresh clashes broke out in at least one Shiite village outside the capital after five people were killed on Wednesday when security forces crushed a month-old pro-democracy its-in on Manama's Pearl Square.

Five hardline Shiite activists and one Sunni dissident was arrested after the army imposed a curfew on parts of Manama by using its powers in accordance with the newly introduced a State of emergency, opposition sources said.

Bahrain military confirmed it had arrested a number of people for crimes including rebellion, murder, and contact with foreign States, but gave no details.

Opposition MP Khalil al-Marzouk said that doctor Ali al-Ekri, who had been accused on State TELEVISION of spreading "fabrications" about the conditions at the Salmaniya hospital, who were arrested on Thursday.

Security forces shooting teargas and shotguns cleared out a pro-democracy tent city on Pearl Square Wednesday in the worst day of violence since activists took to the streets last month.

The opposition said three demonstrators were killed in the attack, while the Government said two police died in hit-and-run attacks from the opposition drivers.

U.S. President Barack Obama, whose country is a close ally of Bahrain, called King Hamad to express "deep concern," while British Prime minister David Cameron urged the monarch to pursue "reform, not oppression."

The main opposition calls for a constitutional monarchy, the resignation of the Government and an end to repression in Bahrain.

King Hamad declared a three-month State of emergency on Tuesday, a day after more than 1,000 armored troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain to restore security.

The sectarian tension have given rise to fears among the Bahrain's the Sunni-led Arab neighbors, Iran, Shiite power, a short boat ride away across the Gulf of Aden, is trying to create unrest in the Kingdom.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the situation in Bahrain "worrying" and criticised Washington's Gulf State allies of heading down "the wrong track" military intervention.

Where is the outrage at the U.s. Bahrain? (Downloads)

New York – many Americans gnashing their teeth Moammar Gadhafi near crushing of Libya's armed rebellion, but yawning over U.S. ally Bahrain penalty on peaceful protest

The UN is so concerned about the Libyan situation, that it has been approved a no-fly zone (and possibly further military intervention) to stop Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi from crush the armed rebels. Yet, Bahrain's routing of its peaceful demonstrators provoked something more from the United Nations than a statement of "deep concern" over "reports excessive and arbitrary use of force ... against unarmed civilians." In the meantime, American scholars calls on military intervention in Libya have little to say about U.S. ally Bahrain. United States has a double standard for democracy?

The u.s. needs to take a position: "It is heartbreaking to see a renegade country such as Libya shoot pro-democracy demonstrators," says Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times. ' But it is even more wrenching to see U.s. allies, Bahrain, drag a Gadhafi» with the help of U.S. weapons to crush a pro-democracy movement "as we live mainly silent." In this struggle between our values and our allies, we must stand up for our values is high.
"Bahrain drag a Qaddafi"

Obama has to tread carefully: United States may very well want to change in Bahrain, said David Ignatius of The Washington Post. But unobtrusive wish has already triggered "the most important U.S.-Saudi dissent for decades." Bahrain chose to follow their fellow Sunni monarchy advice to bring Saudi and UAE troops to crush the rebellion. If the Gulf monarchies fall, it is a great crisis "even by the standards of the Middle East." Obama has very carefully to find a path that "not destabilise the Gulf and the global economy."
"High stakes over Bahrain"

Gadhafis survival prevents U.S. pressure in Bahrain: Gulf monarchies "ignoring Washington's advice to reform and avoid confrontation," says Greg Sheridan in the Australian. But since it now looks to Gadhafi can survive, and the "Arab spring" will not, U.S.-Bahrain tiff remains only "polite disagreement." Because really, "Gadhafi licenses Bahrain," with "unanswerable question" to Washington: "If you can't get rid of Gadhafi, why should you get rid of us?"
"Dictator pieces short Arab spring"

US urges restraint in Bahrain tekstombrydningsfunktionen Middle East turmoil (AP)

WASHINGTON — the Obama administration expressed alarm over a violent punishment on government demonstrators in Central U.S. ally Bahrain on Thursday as a wave of political upheaval moved across the Middle East.

U.S. chiefs by the Pentagon and State Department known as their counterparts in Bahrain, his home to U.S. Navys 5th fleet and an anchor in U.S. defense strategy in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called Bahrain Foreign Minister to track Washington's "deep concern" about overnight developments in which the army patrols and tanks locked in the capital of small Gulf Kingdom after riot police fired tear gas and beat demonstrators demanding political reforms. At least four people were killed.

Clinton spoke with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about how to respond to the demands of the protesters, Foreign Ministry said.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke by telephone Thursday morning with Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain, Deputy Head of the Bahrain Defence, said Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

Morrell gave no information on what Gates said, except that he "discussed the current security situation" with the Prince.

Navy officials in the Pentagon 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain have said they shall monitor developments in Bahrain to sailors and civilian staff and family members who have been informed to avoid protest sites. Officials have not reported any impact on their operations from the turmoil.

5Th fleet operating at least one aircraft carrier in the region Persian Gulf, at all times, together with a "amfibie ready group" of ships with Marines on board. Their presence is central to a long-standing U.S. commitment to ensure a free flow of oil through the Gulf, while keeping an eye on a hostile Iran and seek to deter piracy in the region.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, thousands of Yemeni protesters defied appeal to calm from the military and the country's most influential Islamic cleric and marched through the capital city on Thursday. Libyan protesters seeking to oust his leader Moammar Gadhafi defied a punishment and took to the streets in four cities.