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EU: Bahrain's regime should end crackdown of peaceful protests

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, March 17, IRNA -- European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, called on Bahrain's regime on Thursday to immediately halt its suppression of peaceful protests in the Persian Gulf sheikdom.

'I am deeply concerned by the situation in Bahrain. I have called the Foreign Minister (of Bahrain) to express my views directly, and to underline once again that there is no alternative to dialogue. I have stressed to Foreign Minister Al Khalifa, dialogue must replace violence now,' Ashton said in a statement released in Brussels.

'According to many reports, the use of force by security personnel has been continuous. Several people have died and many have been injured. I regret the violence and this loss of life and on behalf of the EU present my condolences to the families of all the victims. The human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people of Bahrain must be respected,' she added.

Ashton urged the Bahraini government to undertake its utmost efforts 'to initiate a
political process with concrete steps that answers the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Bahrainis,' saying this was the 'only way forward to restore lasting stability and security.'

The EU's top diplomat reiterated the need for 'all sides to enter into a meaningful dialogue without delay and without preconditions.'

Bahrain remained very tense on Thursday after the arrest of opposition leaders and mounting international condemnation of the government's use of force against protesters.

A state of emergency has been declared in Bahrain on Tuesday, authorizing security forces to use all means necessary to crush peaceful popular protests.

Upon Bahrain's request, several Arab Persian Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have dispatched troops to help quell the uprising in the country earlier this week, a move which the Bahraini opposition has branded 'an occupation.'