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Middle Eastern troops enter Bahrain after protests
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March 15, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_troops_enter_Bahrain_after_protests



Troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have arrived in
Bahrain at the government's request after major protests on Sunday.

An estimated 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops entered the country early
Monday, followed by around 500 troops from the UAE. The troops entered
as part of a broader deployment by the  (GCC), a regional group of six
countries.  It is unclear what purpose the troops are serving, though
speculation is that they will guard major infrastructure facilities.  

, the leading opposition party, said it considered "the entry of any
soldier or military machinery into the Kingdom of Bahrain's air, sea or
land territories a blatant occupation" and that the presence of foreign
troops "puts the Bahraini people in real danger, and threatens them with
an undeclared war by armed troops."

Statements from the US government, a major Bahrain ally, said that
"[t]his is not an invasion of a country" and that it urged both the
Bahrain government and the GCC "to exercise restraint" and "act in a way
that supports dialogue instead of undermining it."

The intervention came a day after the country saw the worst protests
since February, as several dozen people were injured in clashes with
police.

== Sources == 

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12729786
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/saudi-arabian-troops-enter-bahrain



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