Shiites rally against plan for Bahraini Saudi tie-up

Tens of thousands of protesters chanting “Bahrain is not for sale” packed a major road outside the capital, Manama, yesterday to denounce proposals for closer ties between the Gulf kingdom and neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

The large turnout – demonstrators stretched for more than three miles along a main highway – underscored the strong reaction to efforts by Bahrain’s rulers to integrate key policies such as defence and foreign affairs with their powerful Saudi neighbour.

Riyadh helped Bahrain’s embattled Sunni monarchy with troops and money during a 15-month uprising.

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Leaders of Bahrain’s majority Shiites called the unity proposal a sellout intended to give Saudi security forces a stronger hand in crackdowns in the strategic island kingdom.

Bahrain has been hit by near daily protests and clashes since the Shiite-led uprising began in February 2011 inspired by revolts in other Arab countries. Opposition groups seek a greater Shiite political voice in the Sunni-ruled nation. At least 50 people have already died in the unrest.

Bahrain’s leaders have blamed Shia-led Iran for encouraging the uprising, although there has been no clear evidence to support the charge.

Many Iranians have expressed sympathy with Bahrain’s Shiites and Iranian officials have sharply criticised the Saudi-led military intervention there.

In Tehran, a government-backed march yesterday also decried the proposed unity pact. The protest leader, cleric Kazem Sedighi, said the proposed Saudi-Bahraini accord is an “ominous conspiracy” aimed at the “annexation” of Bahrain by Saudi Arabia, the main regional rival for Iran.

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