Israel Matzav

Bahrain heating up again

I've been too busy with our own situation to write about it much, but things in Bahrain are heating up again.

The Saudis and other countries have sent troops in response to a request by the Sunni-led government, while the Shiite-dominated opposition groups have called on the UN to intervene.

Bahraini opposition leaders on Monday sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealing for “urgent” intervention, after troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries entered the small island kingdom to quell escalating street protests.

The letter, signed by the leaders of seven opposition groups, called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the Gulf forces, which entered Bahrain on Monday morning via the causeway that links the island to Saudi Arabia.

“We consider any entrance of any soldier or army vehicle into the vicinity of the Kingdom of Bahrain — whether it’s on the ground, by air, or by sea — to be an occupation of the country and a conspiracy against the unarmed people of Bahrain,” the letter said, calling the intervention contrary to “international standards of peace and war.”

“We invite the international community to fulfill their responsibility of international peace and security … and to protect the people of Bahrain from the danger of the foreign military intervention,” it said.

The forces entered Bahrain after protesters successfully blockaded the country’s all-important financial district on Sunday. The forces were sent to support the Sunni-controlled government of the Shi’ite-majority kingdom.

Somehow, I think the government is going to win this one.

Labels: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Shiites v. Sunnis

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:39 AM