Saudi Arabian troops sent to Bahrain as protests escalate

More than 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops have been deployed in Bahrain, following fresh protests over the weekend that pitted protesters from the tiny Gulf monarchy’s Shia majority against riot police.
More than 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops have been deployed in Bahrain, following fresh protests over the weekend that pitted protesters from the tiny Gulf monarchy’s Shia majority against riot police.
Local residents say they saw Saudi troops driving across the causeway that links the two countries early on Monday.
There was no official comment on the presence of the troops, but a Saudi official said “the force will work under the directions of the Bahraini government and protect vital facilities like oil and power.”
The United Arab Emirates also sent around 500 police officers to calm the protests, according to the foreign minister.
The opposition Wefaq movement, however, described the presence of the troops as “an undeclared war” and “a blatant occupation.”
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s crown prince offered opposition groups a dialogue on Sunday, but added that “right to security and stability transcends any other consideration.” Prince Salman’s offer came after protesters after barricaded a road leading into its financial district on Sunday, a working day in the Kingdom, sparking off a two-hour street battle with police.
The clashes were the worst since February 17, when seven protesters were shot dead by police The protests broke out soon after Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, met Bahrain’s king to persuade him to undertake reforms Washington believes are necessary to prevent Iran from capitalising on the arrest.
Bahrain’s monarchy is closely identified with the Bani Utbah, a central Arabian clan of Sunni Muslim faith that seized power in 1783.
Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa, Bahrain’s king, promised a dialogue with the Shia-faith majority after he acceded to the throne in 1999. But elections held in 2002 were marred by allegations of malpractice, and the Parliament that was installed had few real powers.
Bahrain’s Shias were also angered by claims that the monarchy was encouraging the migration of Sunni Arabs from Jordan and Iraq to change the demographic balance.
Last year, the monarchy cracked down on anti-regime parties, arresting dozens of its leaders.
Bahrain has been making efforts to boost its estimated 9,000-strong defence forces after the arrests began. Earlier this month, advertisements appeared in Pakistani newspapers offering positions for Major-level officers, anti-riot instructors and military police.
Home to the United States’ 5th Fleet, which is responsible for securing the western Indian Ocean, Bahrain was designated a major non-Nato ally in 2003, and has received an estimated $100 million every year since then to pay for military hardware.
However, Saudi Arabia’s 200,000-strong armed forces is the most powerful military force in the region, and is treaty-bound to respond to requests for assistance from other Gulf Cooperation Council states.