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Iran writes to intl. bodies on Bahrain

Iran Materials 17 March 2011 03:58 (UTC +04:00)
Iran's foreign minister has written a letter to major international organizations, voicing concern about the Saudi Arabia-led invasion of Bahrain, Press TV reported.
Iran writes to intl. bodies on Bahrain

Iran's foreign minister has written a letter to major international organizations, voicing concern about the Saudi Arabia-led "invasion" of Bahrain, Press TV reported.

"Using the pretext of enjoying Manama's blessing for the deployment is an act lacking in legal justification and international legitimacy", Ali Akbar Salehi said in a letter addressed to the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab League on Tuesday.

"How can one accept [this] that a government has proceeded to invite foreign military forces for the crackdown of its own citizens?" he asked.

Led by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain's fellow members of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council -- Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar -- have dispatched armed forces to the Persian Gulf island.

The militaries are mandated to assist Manama in its crackdown of nationwide protests against the Sunni-led monarchy which is blamed for the suppression of the country's majority Shia population.

Demonstrators in Bahrain have been demanding the ouster of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as well as constitutional reforms, with hundreds camping out peacefully in the capital's Pearl Square since February 14th.

On Wednesday, at least six people were reported to have been killed in Manama during attacks by Bahraini forces against the anti-government protesters in the capital.

Salehi said the "military invasion of Bahrain" is not in accord with the international laws -- no matter which country undertakes it and on what plea.

He said the UN was obliged to take immediate decisions to end the incursion in order to defend its charter and the basic rights of the Bahraini public.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also condemned the military presence as an effort to suppress the Bahraini citizens' will for change.

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