13 May 2011

MANAMA: Saudi-led forces sent to Bahrain to help crush anti-government protests will remain even after emergency rule is lifted next month, the head of the kingdoms military said in a move that is likely to deepen regional tensions with Iran.

And Bahrains legal crackdown on opposition continued Thursday when a special security court sentenced a protester to 15 years in prison. Twenty-one others had their cases continued by the court, which has ordered executions in some previous cases.

Shiite power Iran has condemned the 1,500-strong Gulf Arab force in Bahrain as an occupation by Sunni states against Bahrains Shiite majority, which has faced waves of arrests and deadly crackdowns after beginning protests for greater rights three months ago.

The Bahrain military commander, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Khalifa, threatened even harsher crackdowns if demonstrators return to the streets in the strategic U.S. ally, which is home to the Navys 5th Fleet.

I say to those who did not get the message, If you return we will come back, stronger this time, Sheikh Ahmad was quoted as saying late Wednesday by the official Bahrain News Agency.

Meanwhile, in a special security court set up under martial law-style rule imposed in March, the expected resumption of a trial against 21 opposition leaders and human rights activists was adjourned until May 16.

The activists are accused of plotting against the state and having links to foreign factions an apparent reference to Hezbollah. Fourteen of the suspects are in custody and the rest are being tried in absentia.

Among the 21 charged are a Swedish citizen and a person with a Swedish residency permit, Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Teo Zetterman said.

The Swedish citizen also has Bahraini citizenship, Zetterman added, though the dual citizenship is not recognized by Bahrain, making it hard for the Swedish Embassy in Abu Dhabi to assist.

Separately, the security court convicted another opposition supporter on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and participation in a protest aimed at disrupting public order, a report by the state-run Bahrain News Agency said Thursday.

It added that the protester, Hamad Yousef Kazim, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Kazims court-appointed lawyer can appeal the sentence, the report said.

Bahrains king said the emergency rule will be lifted June 1. But the military chiefs statements suggest a heavy security presence will remain along with the Saudi-led troops.

Copyright The Daily Star 2011.