(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - According to Saudi officials, Saudi Arabia sent more than 1000 armed forces to Bahrain today.
“The council of ministers has confirmed that it has answered a request by Bahrain for support,” Riyadh said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
It said that under an agreement of the six-country [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council, "any harm done to the security of a member state is considered a harm done to the security of all members."
This came as Bahrain's opposition said it considered any foreign military intervention to be an occupation.
“We consider the arrival of any soldier, or military vehicle, into Bahraini territory.... an overt occupation of the kingdom of Bahrain and a conspiracy against the unarmed people of Bahrain,” said an opposition statement.
It called on the international community to act to ensure the “protection of the people of Bahrain from the danger of foreign military intervention.”
Saudi forces prepared to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.
The Crown Prince of Bahrain invited security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.
Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.
The crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said in a televised statement that Bahrain had "witnessed tragic events" during a month of unprecedented political unrest.
Warning that "the right to security and safety is above all else", he added: "Any legitimate claims must not be made at the expanse of security and stability."
The crown prince has also promised that national dialogue would look at increasing the power of Bahrain's parliament, and that any deal could be put to nationwide referendum.
Earlier on Sunday, police moved in on Pearl Square, a site of occupation by Sunni and Shias, who are calling for new constitutional and overthrowing government.
Witnesses said security forces surrounded the protesters' tent compound, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters in the largest effort to clear the square since a crackdown last month that left 9 martyr and 100s injured.
End item/ 129
