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EU 'very concerned' over Bahrain situation after Saudi intervention

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, Mar 15, IRNA -- The European Union said Tuesday it was 'very concerned' over the esacalating situation in Bahrain following the military intervention of Saudi Arabia in that Persian Gulf country, according to media reports.

'We are very concerned about the reports of serious violence in the streets of Bahrain,' Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, told reporters in Brussels.

Bahrain's security forces, which has declared a state of emergency after calling on its Persian Gulf Arab neighbors to collaborate in cracking down on the popular uprising, should 'respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,' the European Union was quoted saying.

Kocijancic said the EU urged police and soldiers 'to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to gather freely and peacefully,' and called on 'all sides to exercise the utmost restraint' and launch a 'dialogue without delay.'

Bahrain has sought the assistance of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-member regional bloc of which it is a member, along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Opposition and civil rights groups in Bahrain called the foreign deployment 'an occupation,' and appealed to the United Nations Secretary General for protection.