Obama condemns violence in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen
WASHINGTON, Feb 18, AFP
President Barack Obama Friday personally appealed to the King of
Bahrain for restraint and condemned violence by the US-allied government
against protesters in the latest Middle East flashpoint.
The US president also condemned violence against anti-government
demonstrations in Yemen, which offers important cooperation in the US
anti-terror fight, and by the government in long-time US foe
Libya.Obama's call to King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa came on a day when
Washington was again torn between support for a regional ally and the
aspirations of protesters seeking what Obama sees as universal political
rights.
Obama warned in the call to Bahrain's King that the United States
believed the stability of the Western-leaning Gulf kingdom which houses
the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet depended on a process of
meaningful political reform.
"President Obama spoke with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain
this evening to discuss the ongoing situation in Bahrain," a White House
statement said.The US leader "reiterated his condemnation of the
violence used against peaceful protesters, and strongly urged the
government of Bahrain to show restraint, and to hold those responsible
for the violence accountable," the statement said.
"As a longstanding partner of Bahrain, the president said that the
United States believes that the stability of Bahrain depends upon
respect for the universal rights of the people of Bahrain, and a process
of meaningful reform that is responsive to the aspirations of all
Bahrainis."
Obama's telephone conversation with the king came after several days
of bloodshed in Bahrain after government forces stormed a square in the
capital Manama and ejected protesters demanding political reform.
Earlier, in a statement issued as he flew to an event in the Pacific
northwest state of Oregon, Obama said he was "deeply concerned" by
reports of violence in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen."
"The United States condemns the use of violence by governments
against peaceful protesters in those countries and wherever else it may
occur," the statement said."We express our condolences to the family and
friends of those who have been killed during the demonstrations," said
Obama who was getting extra briefings on Friday on the regional turmoil.
"The United States urges the governments of Bahrain, Libya and Yemen
to show restraint in responding to peaceful protests and to respect the
rights of their people," Obama said, just a week after the ouster of
president Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.
The administration has argued that each nation feeling the lash of
revolt in the Middle East is different, but said it will speak out
everywhere in favour of the universal values of peaceful protest and
free assembly.The wave of unrest is testing the underpinnings of US
policy, which for decades has seen Washington side with rulers who kept
a lid on dissent but provided relative geopolitical stability.Disquiet
about events in the Gulf, and US links to the violence also started to
bubble up on Capitol Hill.
Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy asked the State Department to look
into whether a law which prohibits aid to foreign security forces that
violate human rights could be invoked against Bahrain."To a watching
world, the vicious and orchestrated attacks on civilian protesters and
journalists in Bahrain, Libya, Iran and elsewhere in the region are
repugnant," Leahy said.
In its 2011 budget request, the Obama administration asked Congress
to provide over 20 million dollars in military, non-proliferation and
anti-terrorism aid to the kingdom of Bahrain.In Libya, a "day of anger"
by opposition groups against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi cost at least
28 lives, according to local sources.
In Bahrain, there was another bloodbath, as security forces opened
fire on ant i-regime protesters in the capital on Friday, wounding
dozens, a day after four people were killed and some 200 wounded.Reports
said up to 55 people were wounded in Friday's protests.
There was also a new outburst of violence in Yemen, where the
government is a vital ally in the US anti-terror campaign.
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