Saudi forces are reportedly to withdraw from Bahrain after four months of aiding the Manama regime in cracking down on protesters.
Saudi forces in Bahrain (file photo)
Around 1,000 Saudi military and police forces were deployed in Bahrain together with forces from the United Arab Emirates in mid-March.
The deployment took place upon Bahrain's request to help Manama crush the popular revolution it has been facing since mid-February.
“The Saudi troops will be withdrawn starting on Monday," a source within the Bahraini government said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
The pullout would take place “because their situation is getting much calmer,” the source claimed, while other reports state that the reinforcements have contributed to an increase in the use of violence against the peaceful protesters.
Another source confirmed the withdrawal and said it is to be a phased-out one.
Saudi sources have also ruled out a complete pullout, saying Riyadh is seeking to redeploy its forces.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the Saudi-backed crackdown on protests in Bahrain.
Rights groups have slammed Manama and Riyadh for what they call gross rights violations.
The deployment took place upon Bahrain's request to help Manama crush the popular revolution it has been facing since mid-February.
“The Saudi troops will be withdrawn starting on Monday," a source within the Bahraini government said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
The pullout would take place “because their situation is getting much calmer,” the source claimed, while other reports state that the reinforcements have contributed to an increase in the use of violence against the peaceful protesters.
Another source confirmed the withdrawal and said it is to be a phased-out one.
Saudi sources have also ruled out a complete pullout, saying Riyadh is seeking to redeploy its forces.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the Saudi-backed crackdown on protests in Bahrain.
Rights groups have slammed Manama and Riyadh for what they call gross rights violations.
No comments:
Post a Comment