Bahrain government accuses Hezbollah of aiding opposition groups
By Elise Labott, CNN
April 25, 2011 -- Updated 0914 GMT (1714 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* New: Opposition denies claims of outside help
* Bahrain's government claims Iranian-backed Hezbollah has been training
opposition figures, report says
* The report details meetings between Hezbollah senior officials and Shiite
opposition groups
* Bahrain's ruling Khalifa family is Sunni Muslim, while about two-thirds
of the country are Shiite
Washington (CNN) -- The militant group Hezbollah is actively plotting with the
opposition in Bahrain to overthrow the country's ruling family, the government
said in a confidential report to the United Nations.
"Evidence confirms that Bahraini elements are being trained in Hezbollah camps
specifically established to train assets from the Gulf," the report reads.
Bahrain has long made claims that Iran and Hezbollah have sought to fuel
instability in the nation.
In the report sent to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Bahrain's government
claims Iranian-backed Hezbollah has been training opposition figures at its
camps in Lebanon and Iran, in an effort to destabilize the Khalifa monarchy.
The report also says the militant group has trained militants for activities in
neighboring Gulf countries, according to diplomats who have reviewed it.
The government report urges the United Nations to curb Iran and Hezbollah's
interference in the country.
Rights group alleges torture in Bahrain
RELATED TOPICS
* Bahrain
* Hezbollah
* Iran
Both Iran and Hezbollah have previously denied involvement in the protests. The
Bahraini government has launched a violent crackdown against the protesters and
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have deployed troops to Bahrain to
support the regime.
The report details meetings between Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other
senior officials of the group with members of Shiite organizations in Bahrain,
such as al Wefaq, one of the country's major opposition parties and the banned
al Haq group.
In the report, Bahrain alleges Shiite groups coordinated political strategy
inside the country and used Hezbollah's television channel, al Manar to
mobilize opposition protests.
Abdul-Jalil Khalil, an al Wefaq member of parliament, denied the claims.
"We believe the problem is a political issue and an internal issue and we have
no support from the outside," he said, adding al Wefaq has no formal or
informal relationship with Hezbollah and does not use al Manar to aid the
movement.
"The movement is a peaceful movement," according to Khalil, who said al Wefaq
is interested in serious political reform and not in overthrowing the ruling
family.
Hassan Mushaimaa, the secretary general of Haq has been detained, and was
unavailable to comment on the report.
Bahrain's ruling Khalifa family is Sunni Muslim, while about two-thirds of the
country are Shiite.
The State Department has said it believes Iran's role in Bahrain has been
minimal, and that the protests in Bahrain were the product of home-grown
frustrations of the country's Shiia, who want greater economic and political
participation.
The Obama administration has criticized the Bahraini crackdown and called for
the government to enter into political dialogue with the opposition.
CNN's Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report
------------------------------------
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe : [email protected]
Unsubscribe : [email protected]
List owner : [email protected]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
