AJE: Bahrain’s Shia opposition leader has demanded that the Saudi-led force that was invited into the country to help quell anti-government protests should leave the country. Ali Salman said on Wednesday that foreign troops must leave because the opposition rejects “any military intervening for any party” in Bahrain. About 1,500 troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states entered Bahrain two weeks ago on the Sunni monarch’s invitation. Bahrain’s king also declared emergency rule and cracked down heavily on protesters who have challenged the royal family’s monopoly on power. Iran, the main Shia power in the region, strongly condemned the deployment. But Salman on Wednesday also said Iran should not interfere. He told reporters that “we don’t want Bahrain to turn into a conflict zone” between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
