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| US diplomat Tom Malinowski expelled from Bahrain | US diplomat Tom Malinowski expelled from Bahrain |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US diplomat has been ordered to leave Bahrain after meeting members of a leading Shia opposition group, say Bahrain officials. | A US diplomat has been ordered to leave Bahrain after meeting members of a leading Shia opposition group, say Bahrain officials. |
| Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, went to Bahrain on Sunday. | Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, went to Bahrain on Sunday. |
| While there, he met members of al-Wefaq, a move which the foreign ministry of Bahrain says intervened in the country's domestic affairs. | |
| Protests by members of the majority Shia population have been ongoing. | Protests by members of the majority Shia population have been ongoing. |
| Mr Malinowski "held meetings with a particular party to the detriment of other interlocutors, thus discriminating between one people, contravening diplomatic norms and flouting normal interstate relations", state news agency BNA reported. | Mr Malinowski "held meetings with a particular party to the detriment of other interlocutors, thus discriminating between one people, contravening diplomatic norms and flouting normal interstate relations", state news agency BNA reported. |
| Mr Malinowski was expected to visit Bahrain for three days, and had meetings scheduled with al-Wefaq, government officials, and a leading human rights activist, Nabeel Rjab. | |
| In meeting al-Wefaq, Mr Malinowski's actions ran "counter to conventional diplomatic norms", the foreign ministry argued. | |
| The small island nation near the Arabian Peninsula has experienced frequent protests by Shias, who seek enhanced political rights. | The small island nation near the Arabian Peninsula has experienced frequent protests by Shias, who seek enhanced political rights. |
| Political talks have thus far failed to mend rifts between the Shia factions and the Sunni monarchy. | Political talks have thus far failed to mend rifts between the Shia factions and the Sunni monarchy. |
| Despite the diplomatic clash, Bahrain's foreign ministry was quick to note relations with the US remain sound. | Despite the diplomatic clash, Bahrain's foreign ministry was quick to note relations with the US remain sound. |
| "The government of Bahrain asserts that this should not in any way affect the two countries' relationship of mutual interests," according to a statement. | "The government of Bahrain asserts that this should not in any way affect the two countries' relationship of mutual interests," according to a statement. |
| Bahrain, an American ally in a volatile region, is currently home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. | Bahrain, an American ally in a volatile region, is currently home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. |