US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Bahrain amid calls for protest against his visit to the Persian Gulf Arab country.
Kerry arrived in the Bahraini capital, Manama, on Wednesday evening and was welcomed by his Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
He was scheduled to discuss regional issues, including the conflicts in Syria and Yemen as well as the fight against the Daesh terrorist group, during meetings with officials from the six countries making up the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
GCC comprises of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Oman.
The visit comes ahead of a planned GCC summit in Saudi Arabia later in April which US President Barack Obama is set to attend.
Prior to Kerry’s visit, Bahraini opposition movements called on the people to stage a mass rally in Manama to voice their anger at the US role in the suppression of Bahrainis.
During a joint press conference with his Bahraini counterpart in Manama, Kerry said it is “essential” for Bahrain to respect human rights.
“Here, as in all nations, we believe that respect for human rights and an inclusive political system are essential,” Kerry said.
Bahrain has been widely criticized for its crackdown on dissent. Anti-regime protesters have been holding rallies across Bahrain since 2011, calling for the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the ongoing heavy-handed crackdown on the rallies.
In the latest protests, demonstrators took to the streets in the town of Shahrakan, located on the outskirts of Manama, on Tuesday to condemn the killing of Ali Abdulghani, who died of his wounds in a hospital in the capital four days after he was reportedly overrun by a police vehicle.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have repeatedly censured the Bahraini regime over the “rampant” human rights abuses against opposition activists and anti-regime protesters.
Bahrain, a key US ally in the Middle East, hosts the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy.
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source : Agencies
Thursday
7 April 2016
11:26:51 AM
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US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Bahrain amid calls for protest against his visit to the Persian Gulf Arab country.