Bahrainis warned against travel to Lebanon

BAHRAIN has warned its nationals not to travel to Lebanon for their own safety after Iranian-backed Shi’ite Muslim group Hezbollah came out in support of weeks of protests by mainly Shi’ite demonstrators.

The warning highlights growing tensions in the world’s largest oil-exporting region between Sunni-ruled Arab countries and non-Arab Shi’ite power Iran.

Bahrain has withdrawn its top diplomats from Iran in a protest over the Islamic Republic’s criticism of last week’s crackdown on mainly Shi’ite protesters in the island kingdom.

The crackdown has also drawn sympathy protests in countries with Shi’ite populations, including Lebanon, where Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah criticised Arab states for backing Bahrain’s rulers while supporting the rebels in Libya.

“Due to the threats and interference that Bahrain has faced from terrorist elements, it warns and advises its nationals not to travel to Lebanon because of the dangers they may face that may affect their safety, and it advises nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately,” the foreign ministry said.

The ferocity of the crackdown, which banned protests, imposed martial law and called in forces from Bahrain’s fellow Sunni-ruled neighbours, has stunned its majority Shi’ites.

More than 60% of Bahrainis are Shi’ites and most are campaigning for a constitutional monarchy; but calls by hardliners for the overthrow of the monarchy have alarmed Sunnis, who fear the unrest serves Iran.

Iran, which supports Shi’ite groups in Iraq and Lebanon, has complained to the United Nations and asked neighbours to join it in urging Saudi Arabia to withdraw forces from Bahrain.