Cautioning on use of force against protesters, the U.S. has said that there cannot be a security solution to the current situation in Bahrain.
“What we are clear about is that there is no security solution to the situation in Bahrain. What we’ve said about Bahrain is that there needs to be a credible political process that addresses the aspirations of the Bahraini people,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.
He called on all the parties to join in a national dialogue proposed by the Crown Prince Salman.
“We want to see an end to the violence there and a political dialogue that addresses the Bahraini people’s concerns and, again, a political process that moves forward and towards a resolution,” he said.
Acknowledging that Iran has a long history of destabilizing activities in the region, Toner, however said that the U.S. has seen no evidence to suggest this is happening in Bahrain.
Meanwhile, in a travel warning, the State Department urged its citizens to defer their travel to Bahrain.
“The U.S. Department of State warns US citizens of the potential for ongoing political and civil unrest in Bahrain.
We urge U.S. citizens to defer travel to Bahrain at this time.
U.S. citizens currently in Bahrain should consider departing,” the travel alert said.
The State Department said Bahrain has experienced a breakdown in law and order in various areas of the country over the last few weeks.
Demonstrations have degenerated into violent clashes between police and protesters on several occasions, resulting in injuries.
There also have been multiple reports of sectarian groups patrolling areas throughout Bahrain and establishing unofficial vehicle checkpoints, it said.
