Saudis want to absorb Bahrain

Yet another source of conflict in the region: if the Sunni Saudi Arabia more or less imprison the Shiite majority of Bahrain imagine the response of Iran.

This report is from Iran's Press TV but has been carried (in Arabic) in Bahrain media

Reports say Saudis seek merging with Bahrain

Reports say Saudi Arabia is seeking to merge with Bahrain in line with plans to unify the six Arab member states of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council

Press TV,

12 May, 2012

Members of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, are expected to meet and discuss closer union among the six countries on May 14.

The member states claim the purpose of the unity is to counter regional threats.

In December 2011, Saudi King Abdullah called on the council members to move “beyond the stage of cooperation and into the stage of unity in a single entity.”

Reports say Saudi Arabia will merge initially with Bahrain in order for the six-member Arab council to reach unity.

This comes while some members of the council have expressed concern about Saudi Arabia’s possible dominance over the other five countries if the council becomes unified.

A Qatari official, whose name was not mentioned in the news reports, said on Friday that Doha “sees this all as Saudi’s way of undermining the [Persian] Gulf States bilateral relations and forcing its own agenda.”

Meanwhile, many commentators say it is unlikely that such unification occur within the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council.

US partially resumes arms sales to Bahrain

Deal paused in 2011 amid protests partly resumes with material for "external defence" after visit from crown prince.

Al Jazeera

12 May, 2012

The administration of US President Barack Obama has said it will resume some arms shipments to Bahrain after most were suspended last year during a government crackdown on political dissent.

The state department said on Friday the administration still has human rights concerns about its strategic Gulf ally and will work with the government to improve the situation but that equipment for Bahrain's "external defence" would be released because it is in US national interests..

"Bahrain is an important security partner and ally in a region facing enormous challenges,'' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

Maintaining the ability to respond to such challenges is a critical part of the US commitment to Gulf security, she said, adding that the administration is "mindful'' of "serious unresolved human rights issues'' and that some items, such as TOW anti-tank missiles and Humvees, would still not be delivered.

Among the equipment being released are harbor patrol boats for the Bahrain Coast Guard and upgrades to F-16 fighter engines, officials said. They did not give an estimate of cost of the items, but the package suspended last year was worth $53 million.

Nuland stressed that items being released are not used for crowd control and that the United States remains concerned about excessive use of force and tear gas against protesters demanding reforms.

Officials said tear gas, tear gas launchers and stun grenades are not included in the package, but human rights activists denounced the move.

"This sale is completely out of step with the United States' stated commitment to reform in Bahrain,'' said Brian Dooley of Human Rights First. "Where is the progress that warrants the reward of arms? This new sale will only damage US credibility among those working for democracy in Bahrain and across the Middle East.'

Friday's announcement followed a visit to Washington DC by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, perceived as a voice for reform in the ruling Khalifa family. Salman met with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.

But it also came on the same day that Bahraini riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades during clashes with anti-government protesters following a rally calling for the release of detained activists, according to witnesses.

At least 50 people have died since unrest began in February 2011 amid widespread anti-authoritarian protests in the Arab world.

Though the Obama administration included criticism of protesters for violence, officials also said the government must reform.

In his meeting with the crown prince on Friday, Biden expressed concern about the recent escalation of street violence, including attacks against security forces, according to a White House statement.

The vice president stressed "the importance of ensuring fundamental rights for all Bahrainis and the need for greater progress by the government on accountability for past abuses, police reform and integration, and inclusive political dialogue,'' the statement read.

Nuland praised Bahrain's government for taking "some important steps'' to follow through on recommendations made by a special commission created to look into the violence.

But she added that much more work must be done to ease increasing polarisation between the majority Shia Muslim community and the ruling Sunni monarchy.

And she lamented that some protesters were resorting to violence.

"We urge all sides to work together to end the violence and refrain from incitement of any kind, including attacks on peaceful protesters or on the Bahraini police,'' Nuland said.