First result for Saudi forces presence in Bahrain: more than 100 causalities, including martyrs, after Bahraini forces stormed into a peaceful protest firing live rounds on protesters

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states’ decision to dispatch their armed forces to Bahrain in response to Manama's call for military help to quell peaceful pro-government protests was condemned by many states as an unacceptable intervention with some analysts saying it showed the limits of Washington's influence in the region.

One day after the military interference, Bahrain's King Hamad proclaimed a three-month state of emergency. "Due to the ongoing circumstances in Bahrain ... King Hamad has announced a state of national emergency as of Tuesday for three months," state television said. The king had instructed the commander of the armed forces to restore order using the army, police forces, units of the National Guard and "any other force" if necessary, said the statement.

Thousands of Bahraini protesters marched from the Pearl Square roundabout toward the Saudi embassy on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia’s sending for troops.

Sources told Al-Manar TV that more than 100 causalities, including martyrs, were the result of Bahraini forces storming into a peaceful protest in Sitra, north of Bahrain, in which soldiers fired live rounds on protesters. 

Bahraini opposition groups, including the main bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, denounced the move as an occupation.

UN CONCERNED

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concerns over the deployment of foreign troops in Bahrain. In a statement released on Monday, Ban said he was troubled that the violence had left many people injured over the past few days, adding that peaceful means should be adopted to ensure national unity and stability. "He also underscores the responsibility of all parties to act in strict accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law,” it stressed calling for a meaningful and broad-based national dialogue.

US URGES RESTRAINT

The United States, which has declined to term the troops' move into Bahrain as incursion, was cautious in its response to the troop deployment, neither criticizing nor explicitly welcoming it. "This is not an invasion of a country," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

The deployment of 1,000 Saudi troops, at the request of Bahrain's royal family, came two days after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited the country.

The Pentagon said neither Gates nor Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who also recently visited Bahrain, had been given any indication that Saudi or other forces from the region would deploy to Bahrain. It urged Saudi Arabia to show restraint.

The State Department urged US citizens to defer travel to Bahrain and suggested Americans there should leave due to the ongoing unrest. It said that while protests have not been directed toward Westerners, US citizens should "avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment or worse."

IRAN CONDEMNS

Also on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the military intervention in Bahrain was "unacceptable" and it will complicate the already volatile situation there.
"Basically, we do not think it is right for forces of other countries, specially Persian Gulf countries, to be present or intervene in Bahrain's situation," Mehmanparast said. "The people of Bahrain have demands, which are legitimate and are being expressed peacefully. Any violence in response to these legitimate demands should be stopped," he added.

Television footage showed convoys of unmarked, desert-brown armored vehicles crossing from Saudi's Eastern Province into Bahrain.
At least seven people have been martyred and hundreds of others have sustained injuries following the Bahraini government's violent crackdown on demonstrators.

BAHRAIN OPPOSITION WARNS OF NEW WAR

A Bahraini opposition leader has warned that if Saudi Arabia does not withdraw its forces from Bahrain, a new war could spread across the Persian Gulf region. “The Saudis are better advised to go back to their borders ... otherwise there will be bad consequences,” Saeed al-Shehabi told Press TV.

The opposition leader also expressed concern that the Saudi forces might never leave Bahrain, as history has shown that when Riyadh sent forces to Kuwait and Yemen, it failed to withdraw them and still occupies those countries.

EU URGES 'UTMOST RESTRAINT'

The European Union echoed Ban’s voice urging "utmost restraint" and calling on security forces to respect the "right to assemble peacefully"."We're very concerned by reports of serious violence in the streets in Bahrain," said a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. "We call on all sides to exercise utmost restraint and calm to avoid further turmoil," added Maja Kocijancic. "We also call on the security forces present to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms including the right to assemble freely and peacefully," she added.