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| David Cameron 'raises concerns' with Bahrain prince | David Cameron 'raises concerns' with Bahrain prince |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has "raised concerns" about the political situation in Bahrain during a meeting with the country's crown prince. | Prime Minister David Cameron has "raised concerns" about the political situation in Bahrain during a meeting with the country's crown prince. |
| Mr Cameron has faced criticism for welcoming the prince at a time when his regime has been heavily criticised for its response to pro-democracy protests. | Mr Cameron has faced criticism for welcoming the prince at a time when his regime has been heavily criticised for its response to pro-democracy protests. |
| Troops were called in from Saudi Arabia to suppress the demonstrations and at least 29 people have died. | Troops were called in from Saudi Arabia to suppress the demonstrations and at least 29 people have died. |
| Number 10 said the PM urged the prince to embrace "reform not repression". | Number 10 said the PM urged the prince to embrace "reform not repression". |
| Following the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, there were protests in Bahrain demanding greater freedom and rights, with some calling for the overthrow of the monarchy. | Following the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, there were protests in Bahrain demanding greater freedom and rights, with some calling for the overthrow of the monarchy. |
| Bahrain's government was widely condemned for imposing a state of martial law and inviting troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia to help put down protests against the ruling al-Khalifa dynasty. | Bahrain's government was widely condemned for imposing a state of martial law and inviting troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia to help put down protests against the ruling al-Khalifa dynasty. |
| Hundreds of people have been arrested and put on trial in special courts. | Hundreds of people have been arrested and put on trial in special courts. |
| 'Torture' | 'Torture' |
| Downing Street said Mr Cameron and Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa's discussed both Bahrain and the rest of the Middle East at their meeting on Thursday. | Downing Street said Mr Cameron and Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa's discussed both Bahrain and the rest of the Middle East at their meeting on Thursday. |
| Afterwards, a spokesman said: "The prime minister raised concerns about the situation in Bahrain and stressed the importance of the government moving to a policy of reform rather than repression. That all sides should address their grievances through genuine and constructive dialogue. | Afterwards, a spokesman said: "The prime minister raised concerns about the situation in Bahrain and stressed the importance of the government moving to a policy of reform rather than repression. That all sides should address their grievances through genuine and constructive dialogue. |
| "The prime minister emphasised his support for the crown prince's long-standing work to achieve political and economic progress in Bahrain, and said that Britain would back efforts to normalise the situation and return Bahrain to a credible long-term process of reform." | "The prime minister emphasised his support for the crown prince's long-standing work to achieve political and economic progress in Bahrain, and said that Britain would back efforts to normalise the situation and return Bahrain to a credible long-term process of reform." |
| Challenged earlier about why Britain was welcoming the crown prince when it was taking part in the Nato-led military action in Libya, the spokesman said "the situation in different countries is different". | Challenged earlier about why Britain was welcoming the crown prince when it was taking part in the Nato-led military action in Libya, the spokesman said "the situation in different countries is different". |
| Nato air strikes are being carried out under a UN mandate to protect civilians from the forces of Libyan leader Col Gaddafi, who is trying to crush an uprising against his rule. | Nato air strikes are being carried out under a UN mandate to protect civilians from the forces of Libyan leader Col Gaddafi, who is trying to crush an uprising against his rule. |
| But former foreign office minister Denis MacShane accused Mr Cameron of "rolling out the red carpet for Bahrain's torturer-in-chief at Downing Street". | |
| He said: "We have well-documented reports of torture, including the torture of women doctors, killings, and even the Saudis sending tanks across to Bahrain to crush the protests in the time-honoured fashion of the Soviets in Prague or Budapest." | He said: "We have well-documented reports of torture, including the torture of women doctors, killings, and even the Saudis sending tanks across to Bahrain to crush the protests in the time-honoured fashion of the Soviets in Prague or Budapest." |
| Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: "David Cameron should use this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that the Bahraini government must end its relentless crackdown on human rights." | Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: "David Cameron should use this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that the Bahraini government must end its relentless crackdown on human rights." |
| "It's vital that the government doesn't overlook human rights abuse in Bahrain in any kind of effort to smooth the way to arms sales or trade more generally." | "It's vital that the government doesn't overlook human rights abuse in Bahrain in any kind of effort to smooth the way to arms sales or trade more generally." |
| Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was "a huge error of judgement" on the part of Mr Cameron to invite the crown prince to No 10. | Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was "a huge error of judgement" on the part of Mr Cameron to invite the crown prince to No 10. |
| He added: "Britain should not be conducting business as usual with a tyranny that is guilty of gross human rights abuses." | He added: "Britain should not be conducting business as usual with a tyranny that is guilty of gross human rights abuses." |