April 14, 11

NEWS / Concerned at violence in Bahrain, Ban calls for restraint and dialogue

13 April 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his concern to Bahrain’s Foreign Minister about the violence in the country in which demonstrators have been killed or injured, and called for maximum restraint and caution.

During their meeting in Doha, Qatar, on the margins of the Libya Contact Group meeting, Mr. Ban was briefed by Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa on recent developments in Bahrain.

The country is one of several in the Middle East and North Africa that has been rocked this year by protests calling for increased freedoms and democratic reforms. The Government’s crackdown on protesters has draw criticism from UN officials, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Secretary-General said he hoped the situation would calm down and that serious, inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders could start as soon as possible, according to his spokesperson.

In this context, he urged all the parties to respond constructively to the call for a dialogue, stating that it was important to accommodate the aspirations of the people.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38105&Cr=bahrain&Cr1=