AhlulBayt News Agency

source : IRNA
Friday

13 May 2011

7:30:00 PM
241428

Iran welcomes Bahrain's offer of talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has welcomed Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa's willingness to hold talks with the Islamic Republic.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “It was a good step that he (King Hamad) took,” the Iranian minister said on Saturday.

Salehi further announced that he is “very likely” to travel to Kuwait in the coming days, adding his regional trips aimed at helping resolve the crisis in Bahrain have been “very effective.”

“I hope we will see the Bahrain issue settled in such a way that the Bahraini people will be relieved from the pressure of oppressors and reach their legitimate demands, and at the same time the government and the people will live side by side in peace,” the top Iranian diplomat pointed out.

At a meeting with the members of Bahrain's Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Al Khalifa said Manama seeks “brotherhood” in its relations with Iran and “offers friendship” to the Islamic Republic.

The king expressed Manama's willingness to work with Tehran to pinpoint and tackle the existing problems, saying such cooperation will serve the interests of both Iranians and Arabs.

He also warned of the attempts made by some media and entities to sow discord among Arabs, Iran and Muslim nations.

Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have poured into the streets, calling for an end to the ruling of Al Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled the country for almost forty years.

On March 13, Saudi-led forces were dispatched to the Persian Gulf island at Manama's request to quell the countrywide protests.

Since the deployment of Saudi troops in Bahrain, Manama has shown itself capable of great brutality in suppressing the anti-regime protesters.

Scores of protesters have been killed and many others arrested and sent to unknown locations during Manama's violent crackdown on protesters. A number of the deaths have occurred under torture.

Regime forces have also raided dozens of mosques, schools, sacred sites and even graves in persisting efforts to suppress all opposition.

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