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| Bahrain's King Hamad promises human rights reforms | Bahrain's King Hamad promises human rights reforms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The king of Bahrain has promised reforms to prevent abuses by security forces, after an independent report about a crackdown on protests said authorities had used "excessive force". | The king of Bahrain has promised reforms to prevent abuses by security forces, after an independent report about a crackdown on protests said authorities had used "excessive force". |
| King Hamad expressed "dismay" at the findings and vowed to ensure "those painful events won't be repeated". | King Hamad expressed "dismay" at the findings and vowed to ensure "those painful events won't be repeated". |
| The much-awaited title="Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report" >report into the events in February and March said a number of detained protesters had been tortured. | |
| More than 40 people died in the unrest, which some officials blamed on Iran. | More than 40 people died in the unrest, which some officials blamed on Iran. |
| Bahrain has a majority Shia Muslim population and the violence has fuelled anger against the ruling Sunni royal family and political elite. | Bahrain has a majority Shia Muslim population and the violence has fuelled anger against the ruling Sunni royal family and political elite. |
| More than 1,600 people have been arrested during the protests, which have continued sporadically since the peak of the unrest eight months ago. | More than 1,600 people have been arrested during the protests, which have continued sporadically since the peak of the unrest eight months ago. |
| 'No Iran link' | 'No Iran link' |
| The summary of the 500-page report was presented by the Bahrain Independent Commission at King Hamad's palace in Manama on Wednesday. | The summary of the 500-page report was presented by the Bahrain Independent Commission at King Hamad's palace in Manama on Wednesday. |
| The head of the commission, Professor Cherif Bassiouni, said investigations had found officials "used excessive force". Many detainees were subjected to "physical and psychological torture", he said. | The head of the commission, Professor Cherif Bassiouni, said investigations had found officials "used excessive force". Many detainees were subjected to "physical and psychological torture", he said. |
| Inmates, he added, had been blindfolded, whipped, kicked, given electric shocks and threatened with rape to extract confessions. | Inmates, he added, had been blindfolded, whipped, kicked, given electric shocks and threatened with rape to extract confessions. |
| Prof Cherif said the evidence seen by the commission "did not prove a clear link between the events in Bahrain and Iran". | Prof Cherif said the evidence seen by the commission "did not prove a clear link between the events in Bahrain and Iran". |
| He also stressed that it was a "unique and historic" event - the first time a state in the region had voluntarily and without international pressure investigated unrest in its own country. | He also stressed that it was a "unique and historic" event - the first time a state in the region had voluntarily and without international pressure investigated unrest in its own country. |
| Prof Cherif is a former UN human rights lawyer. The other commission members are all non-Bahrainis. | Prof Cherif is a former UN human rights lawyer. The other commission members are all non-Bahrainis. |
| The inquiry interviewed more than 5,000 people, including hundreds who say they were tortured in prison. | The inquiry interviewed more than 5,000 people, including hundreds who say they were tortured in prison. |
| 'New page' | 'New page' |
| The king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah, heard the report sitting on a red and gold throne in front of an audience of nearly 1,000 people. | The king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah, heard the report sitting on a red and gold throne in front of an audience of nearly 1,000 people. |
| He stressed that he never again wanted to see Bahrain paralysed by "intimidation and sabotage", adding: "Nor do we want, ever again, to discover that any of our law enforcement personnel have mistreated anyone." | He stressed that he never again wanted to see Bahrain paralysed by "intimidation and sabotage", adding: "Nor do we want, ever again, to discover that any of our law enforcement personnel have mistreated anyone." |
| He promised to reform Bahrain's laws to protect freedom of speech and other basic rights. | He promised to reform Bahrain's laws to protect freedom of speech and other basic rights. |
| "We do not want ever again to see civilians tried anywhere else but in ordinary courts," he said. | "We do not want ever again to see civilians tried anywhere else but in ordinary courts," he said. |
| The monarch said the report opened "a new page" in Bahrain's history, promising to sack those officials who had abused their power. | The monarch said the report opened "a new page" in Bahrain's history, promising to sack those officials who had abused their power. |
| If the king acts to change the way the country is run, then the outcome could be positive, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Bahrain reports. | If the king acts to change the way the country is run, then the outcome could be positive, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Bahrain reports. |
| If not, then more violence is likely to lie ahead, our correspondent says. | If not, then more violence is likely to lie ahead, our correspondent says. |
| Are you in Bahrain? Have you witnessed any of the protests? What are your expectations of the report? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Bahrain? Have you witnessed any of the protests? What are your expectations of the report? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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