Special Reports

GCC role in Bahrain troubling, Iran says

$Bahraini anti-government protesters demonstrate in Manama, Bahrain on March 18, 2011 . Thousands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. UPI\Isa Ebrahim$

Bahraini anti-government protesters demonstrate in Manama, Bahrain on March 18, 2011 . Thousands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. UPI\Isa Ebrahim

License photo

Published: May 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM

TEHRAN, May 18 (UPI) -- The continued presence of foreign military forces in Bahrain only makes the current crisis more difficult to handle, the Iranian foreign minister announced.

Tehran is upset with a decision by Saudi Arabia to send forces to Bahrain under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The minority Sunni leadership in Bahrain is struggling to control mounting frustration from the country's Shiite majority.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi protested the GCC intervention into Bahrain by saying there was no military solution to the crisis.

"There is no military solution to the Bahrain crisis, continued presence of foreign military forces in the country will further complicate the situation," he was quoted by the semiofficial Fars News Agency as saying.

The minister further called on Bahrain to exercise self-restraint when dealing with the Shiite uprising.

Iran faced international criticism over its human rights record and for its violent suppression of 2009 protests against the contested re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Most Popular Collections

'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening	NBC upfronts	Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York	Spire raised on top of One WTC	2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces

Additional Special Reports Stories
Top News 2 Bodies found at Dreyfoos School of the Arts in Florida Dreyfoos: Bodies found at Florida school include custodian, police conducting "open death investigation." Meredith Kercher killed in 'sex game gone wrong,' Knox to be retried rules Italian court Men's Wearhouse fires founder, chairman George Zimmer Wildfires burn in Arizona, California GOP slams IRS on planned $70 million in bonuses	Entertainment News Video: Rihanna hits fan with microphone at Birmingham concert Rihanna clocked a fan with her microphone after the front-row attendee grabbed her. Johnny Depp opens up about split from Vanessa Paradis Paula Deen allegedly admits to using N-word, having party with people dressed as slaves John Mayer's new single 'Paper Doll' video pairs song with Prancercise clip Lourdes flooding: French floods kill 2, close Catholic pilgrimage site
Business News Beef recall announced over E. coli fears National Beef Packing Co. and The United States Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of 22,737 pounds of ground beef over E. coli fears. Nap Nanny to recall all its Chill recliners following five deaths Embraer secures more orders for executive jets Designers Dolce and Gabbana given suspended jail terms Men's Wearhouse fires co-founder Zimmer	Odd News TWA 800 crash documentary alleges coverup A new documentary out on the 17th anniversary of the explosion of TWA Flight 800 alleges investigators covered up the real cause of the crash. Twins crack up with rubber band game Red Robin ad under fire for dissing vegetarians Bakery provides 'cat' where 'cap' should have been on graduation cake Minnesota mother, son accused of stealing frozen gopher feet