Bahrain Orders US Diplomat to Leave Country

Bahrain's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday that US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski is not welcome in the country.

It said he had intervened in the country's domestic affairs by holding meetings with some groups at the expense of others, Al Jazeera reported.

Malinowski, who arrived in the country on Sunday and had been scheduled to stay for three days, was ordered to leave after meeting with Bahrain's Shiite opposition group, Al-Wefaq.

In a statement on Monday, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "The United States is deeply concerned by ... Bahrain’s decision to demand the immediate departure of Tom Malinowski.

"Assistant Secretary Malinowski’s visit to Bahrain had been coordinated far in advance and warmly welcomed and encouraged by the government of Bahrain.

"Contrary to our longstanding bilateral relationship and in violation of international diplomatic protocol, the government insisted - without advance warning and after his visit had already commenced - to have a Foreign Ministry representative present at all of ... Malinowski’s private meetings with individuals and groups representing a broad spectrum of Bahraini society.

"These actions are not consistent with the strong partnership between the United States and Bahrain."

Bahrain, a tiny island nation that is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, has been roiled by near-daily protests by Shiites seeking greater political rights and inspired by the Arab Spring wave of revolutions since early 2011.

The government moved to crush the uprising, which threatened to spill into neighboring Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries with Shia populations, with the help of regional Persian Gulf Arab forces.