Iran condemns Bahrain's cruelty against demostrators

Iranian FM Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast condemned brutal crackdowns against Bahraini demonstrations, IRNA reported.

"Regional and international silence toward the suppression of protestors is unacceptable; western states and international communities should avoid paradoxical behaviors towards different countries," he added.

Mehmanparast noted that foreign military interference will not solve Bahrain's problems.

"We hope the Bahraini government would refrain from usage of violence against the demonstrators and regain the trust of the nation by freeing political prisoners," Mehmanparast underscored.

Bahrain authorities detained groups of protesters few days ago for closing several streets nationwide and using metal rods and Molotov cocktails in confrontations with police, the state-run Bahrain News Agency said.

Those arrested will be prosecuted, BNA quoted Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq al-Hassan as saying.

Tensions in the island nation persist almost a year after the outbreak of protests led by members of the Shiite Muslim majority demanding a more representative government and greater rights from the country's Sunni Muslim rulers. Thirty-five people died between Feb. 14 and April 15, according to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the unrest. Neighboring Saudi Arabia, also a Sunni monarchy, sent troops to Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, to help restore order.

Protesters took to the streets in several villages in response to calls by opposition groups for unauthorized rallies dubbed the Bahrain Fist. Recent rallies have turned violent, with demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails and police using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Since the beginning of 2011, the Muslim world has witnessed popular uprisings and revolutions similar to what happened in Iran in 1979. Tunisia saw the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a popular revolution in January, which was soon followed by a revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak in Egypt in February.

Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have since been the scene of protests against their totalitarian rulers, who have resorted to brutal crackdown on demonstrations to silence their critics.

Bahrain and Yemen, however, have experienced the deadliest clashes. Anti-government protesters have been holding demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.


Edited by: S. Isayev