Bahrain puts down foreign plot

MANAMA, Bahrain, March 21 (UPI) -- Contributing troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council helped Bahrain put down an effort to cripple the government, the Bahraini king said.

The official Bahrain News Agency quoted King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa as saying a foreign plot to bring down the ruling monarchy failed.

"An external plot has been fomented for 20 to 30 years until the ground was ripe for subversive designs," he was quoted as saying. "I here announce the failure of the fomented plot."

He didn't state which country was behind the unrest, though Shiite leaders in Iran are incensed over the political crisis in Bahrain.

The ruling Sunni monarchy in Bahrain is facing pressure from the country's Shiite majority.

Hamad declared a three-month state of emergency Tuesday. Opposition figures were arrested by the Sunni regime Thursday and several people were reported killed in the unrest this week.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, meanwhile, defended its position to send troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help Bahraini forces handle the security situation.

Bahrain's Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa said Monday that his country would recover from the calamity.

"The kingdom will emerge stronger and more determined," he was quoted by BNA as saying.