Bahrain: Secretary-General discusses recent unrest with senior officials

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met today with top Bahraini officials to discuss his Government’s efforts to restore stability to the small Gulf country after months of popular unrest that has included deadly clashes between security forces and protesters.

Mr. Ban and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa, Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa met at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s annual general debate.

The officials discussed recent developments inside Bahrain, according to information released by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

Last month the UN human rights office (OHCHR) demanded the release of civilians who had been detained after participating in anti-Government demonstrations.

In their meeting today, Mr. Ban and the Bahraini officials discussed the work of the Independent Commission of Inquiry set up in response to the unrest, as well as the follow-up to the so-called National Consensus Dialogue introduced by the Government and other initiatives designed to restore order and stability.

The protests in Bahrain are part of a wider public uprising across North Africa and the Middle East that has led to the toppling of long-standing regimes in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt and to deadly clashes in Syria and Yemen as well.