(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael H. Posner expressed hope that Bahrain “abide by its international legal obligations and conduct transparent judicial proceedings.”
According to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the US official said Washington would urge Manama to provide “the appropriate environment for a successful dialogue” in order to “achieve the aspirations of everyone.”
Posner pointed to the “longstanding alliance” between Washington and Manama and said, “Bahrain is an important partner of the United States. We have a longstanding alliance based on shared political, economic and security interests.”
Posner made the remarks as Bahraini protesters took to the streets of the tiny kingdom on Wednesday to mark the completion of four months of the popular revolution against the Al Khalifa regime.
Bahrain's largest opposition group al-Wefaq has called for a mass peaceful anti-regime protest rally on Friday in Sitra to demand political reforms and to protest against the government's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
According to rights groups, including Amnesty International, at least 500 people have been detained in the regime's crackdowns since the protests began in mid-February.
On March 14, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates deployed police and military forces in the kingdom upon Manama's request to help crush the nationwide protests.
Scores of protesters have been killed and many others injured since the beginning of the crackdown.
However, the United States has refused to condemn the brutal crackdown on protesters despite the international condemnation of Manama's gross violation of human rights.
Bahrain plays host to the huge naval base of the US 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf.
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