Saudi Arabian forces prepare to enter Bahrain after day of clashes

[bemildred]

Source: Guardian.UK

Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom's 525,000 residents.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/saudi-arabian-forces-bahrain-protests

[Poll_Blind]

1. One corrupt monarchy propping up another.

PB

[msongs]

2. there you go again, criticizing our bestest friends in the whole world lol nt

[Mybrokenchains]

3. hopefully Bahrain will be the Saudi's afghanistan

[jpak]

4. World gone mad

yup

[WheelWalker]

5. The Sauds are Bahrain damaged. nt.

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. Saudi Arabia leads the charge attacking Libyan aggressions on civilians

Yeah, credible..

The Saudi gangsters are concerned at the principle of "if one can fall, any of them can fall". I guess their refrain of "it's only the Arab Republics at risk (the Kings are safe)" has fallen by the wayside; denial can be ugly.

[joshcryer]

7. They did this after Gates gave them a visit...

[PufPuf23]

8. The USA under POTUS Obama has approved $60 Billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

I would expect Saudi to be a leading proxie in any Arab League NFZ or other military action against Gadaffi in Libya regards to real politik.

[nalnn]

9. Not good n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. BBC: Gulf states send force to Bahrain following protests

Bahrain's opposition said the foreign troops amounted to an occupation.

A Saudi official said about 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops arrived in Bahrain early on Monday.

The troops are part of a Gulf Cooperation Council deployment, a six-nation regional grouping which includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

It is believed they are intended to guard key facilities such as oil and gas installations and financial institutions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12729786

[Alamuti Lotus]

11. Saudi sends troops, Bahrain Shi'ites call it "war"

MANAMA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia sent troops into Bahrain on Monday to help put down weeks of protests by the Shi'ite Muslim majority, a move opponents of the Sunni ruling family on the island called a declaration of war.

Analysts saw the troop movement as a mark of concern in Saudi Arabia that political concessions by Bahrain's monarchy could embolden the Saudi kingdom's own Shi'ite minority.

About 1,000 Saudi soldiers entered Bahrain to protect government facilities, a Saudi official source said, a day after mainly Shi'ite protesters overran police and blocked roads.

Bahraini opposition groups including the largest Shi'ite party Wefaq said the move was an attack on defenseless citizens.

"We consider the entry of any soldier or military machinery into the Kingdom of Bahrain's air, sea or land territories a blatant occupation," they said in a statement.

"This real threat about the entry of Saudi and other Gulf forces into Bahrain to confront the defenseless Bahraini people puts the Bahraini people in real danger and threatens them with an undeclared war by armed troops."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110314/wl_nm/us_bahrain_protests_forces