UK voices alarm at state of emergency in Bahrain
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, March 15, IRNA -- Foreign Secretary William Hague Tuesday voiced the British government's alarm at the decision by the king of Bahrain to declare a state of emergency after calling in Saudi troops to quell protests.
'We're extremely concerned about the escalation of the situation in Bahrain, in particular the decision by the government of Bahrain to declare a state of emergency,” Hague said.
“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid violence,' he told parliament after returning from a G8 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris.
At the G8 meeting, foreign ministers were said to have also raised alarm about Saudi Arabia's decision to send troops into neighbouring Bahrain, according to Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini.
'We discussed this and expressed great concern about the fact that for the first time probably in the recent history of that region, neighbours have decided to send armed forces to sustain the king of Bahrain,' Frattini said.
Prime Minister David Cameron also has called for restraint, saying Britain's position has been “consistent throughout, that right across the region governments should respond to calls for change with reform, not repression.”
“Clearly we are concerned about the escalation of the situation in Bahrain and we would call on all parties to exercise restraint. Intervention by (Persian) Gulf countries at the request of the Bahrain government needs to be consistent with that,' Cameron said.
On Monday, the Foreign Office updated its travel advice, warning against all travel to Bahrain and for UK nationals living in the country to remain at home until further notice.
'If British nationals do travel within Bahrain, they should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and on major highways, and avoid large crowds and demonstrations,” the advice said.
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