Bahrain security forces do not indulge in 'ethnic cleansing: King

Manama, Dec 13(ANI): Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa defended his policy of tackling protests in the country, saying the government would not "go and kill people on the roads" to crush dissent.

He also rejected allegations of Bahrain security forces indulging in "ethnic cleansing or genocide".

King Hamad blamed Syria and Iran for inciting protestors, saying his regime had evidence to back the claims.

His statement came after an independent commission probe had highlighted that the government used excessive force to suppress anti-government protests.

King Hamad accepted that some individuals in the security forces had mishandled the protests, but vowed to implement several reforms aimed at establishing a "kingdom of tolerance" in the country.

"What happened was the result of individual acts, not government policy. It is not the policy of the Ministry of Interior to go and kill people on the roads. The policemen and soldiers involved in the killings did not take notice of the discipline side of matters," The Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

"If people have done something wrong then they should be held accountable. We have removed people from positions of authority so that this does not happen again," he added.

The King had earlier ordered the prosecution of twenty Bahrain police officers who have been blamed for the death five demonstrators. He also ordered the replacement of National Security Agency chief Sheikh Khalifa bin Abdullah.

King Hamad said his main priority was to heal the rift within Bahrain and to undertake reforms to avoid another round of violence. (ANI)