A military force from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations moved into Bahrain on Monday to shore up the nation’s Sunni rulers in the face of escalating Shia-led protests seeking to break the monarchy’s hold on power.
The Crown Prince of Bahrain formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council. A Saudi security official said the Gulf units dispatched to Bahrain come from a special force within the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. He did not give details on the size or national breakdown of the force — estimated in some reports at about 1,000 strong — but said they were deployed by air and road and will help protect key buildings in the strategic nation, which hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The GCC members are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The strife in Bahrain escalated dramatically over the weekend just as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived to urge its leaders — key Washington allies — to heed at least some of the demands for change. The Gulf Sunni dynasties are fearful for their own fate as the Arab push for change rumbles through the oil-rich region. They also see any gains by Bahrain’s Shias as a potential foothold for Shia heavyweight Iran to increase influence. Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central roundabout, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.
EU-Digeat
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