UN humanitarian chief alarmed by Bahrain crackdown

Mar 18, 2011 |

UNITED NATIONS

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The United Nations’ humanitarian chief on Thursday added her voice to the chorus of leaders expressing concern about Bahrain's bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Sunni Muslim rulers are using force to stop Shiite-led protesters in the strategic Gulf kingdom, raising alarm in Washington and sparking condemnation from Iran, Shiite leaders in Iraq and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

"The widespread reports of deaths and ill-treatment of protesters, and of injured people being prevented from reaching hospitals or being removed from medical facilities, occupation of medical facilities by security forces, and of medical staff being attacked, are extremely alarming," said Valerie Amos, deputy secretary general for humanitarian affairs.

Amos, who said she cannot confirm information coming from Bahrain, called on security forces "to refrain from excessive use of force, and to respect medical facilities and ensure the treatment of wounded persons."

Earlier, UN rights chief Navi Pillay said any takeover by the security forces of hospitals and medical facilities was a "blatant violation of international law. This is shocking and illegal conduct."

The Shiite-led opposition vowed late on Thursday to press on with "peaceful" demonstrations, undeterred by the military force deployed to quell their protests.

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