Senators Urge Kerry to Address Political Crisis in Bahrain
Source: Associated Press
Senators Urge Kerry to Address Political Crisis in Bahrain
By RICHARD LARDNER, ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON Jun 30, 2016, 1:39 PM ET
A group of senators says a simmering political crisis in Bahrain could spiral into violence, encourage meddling by Iran and destabilize an important U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf.
In a letter sent Thursday to Secretary of State John Kerry, the senators say they are deeply alarmed by the government of Bahrain's crackdown on free speech and political dissent.
The tiny island kingdom of Bahrain hosts the Navy's 5th Fleet.
The senators say the Sunni-ruled government in Bahrain has recently targeted the country's Shiite opposition and nonviolent human rights groups. They say that opens the door for "outside actors," such as Shiite-majority Iran, to take advantage of a deteriorating situation.
The senators who signed the letter include Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Marco Rubio of Florida.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/senators-urge-kerry-address-political-crisis-bahrain-40254778