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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran condemns Bahrain crackdown |
| 2011-02-19 |
| [Iran Press TV] Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman has condemned the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain, calling on Manama to exercise restraint. Mehmanparast expressed concerns over "the Bahraini Army's use of excessive violence against protesters" and called on the government to "avoid violence in its confrontation with demonstrators," read a Foreign Ministry statement on Friday. He expressed hope that the Bahraini people's demands will be taken into consideration in the kingdom's process of political reform and that their right to freely express their opinion will be respected. On Friday, the Bahraini military opened machinegun fire on protesters trying to reach hospitals in what appeared to be an attempted massacre. Army forces also prevented ambulances and medics from reaching those maimed amid massive pro-democracy protests in Bahrain. The Friday shooting came after a funeral procession, held for those killed on Thursday, turned into pro-democracy protests with a turnout of tens of thousands, which is unprecedented over the past few weeks. Four pro-democracy protesters were killed and 231 others maimed after riot police raided the protest camp in the early hours of Thursday, when most of the demonstrators were sleeping, in an attempt to clear capital's main square from demonstrators. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Bahrain's crown prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa promised to start a national dialogue, once calm returns. |
| Posted by:Fred |