Bahrain forces 'will remain'

Bahrain's foreign minister has said that Saudi and UAE forces called in to help quell street unrest will leave only when "any external threat" he associated with Iran was seen to be gone.

Pro-democracy demonstrators in Bahrain have denied any link with the Islamic republic.

Bahrain's prime minister described the several weeks of anti-government protests by the Sunni Muslim-ruled country's disaffected Shi'ite majority as a coup attempt.

The mostly Shi'ite protesters in the outpouring of unrest in February and March demanded more freedom, an end to discrimination and a constitutional monarchy in Bahrain.