MANAMA - BahrainÂ’s decision to expel the representative of a US-based pro-democracy organization from the country has triggered concerns over US-Bahrain relations prior to upcoming elections. The head of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) office in Manama, Fawzi Guleid, had been given till Friday to leave the country after his permit visa expired and the government refused to renew it.Guleid would not comment on the decision but he reportedly began preparation to leave the country after being informed of the governmentÂ’s decision.
| "Hasta-la-bye-bye!" |
The group began operating in early 2002, ahead of BahrainÂ’s first municipal and parliamentary elections in almost three decades. In 2005, NDI came under attack by Islamist members of BahrainÂ’s parliament, who questioned whether the Washington-based institute was serving US interests and accused it of violating Bahraini law banning foreign bankrolling of local political activities.
| Something which with the Democrats have experience. |