National Security

US diplomat says Bahrain expulsion ‘not about me’

By Reem Khalifa
Published July 8, 2014 9:55pm ET
Add Washington Examiner on Google
US diplomat says Bahrain expulsion ‘not about me’
In this Sunday, July 6, 2014 photo released by the Bahraini opposition group, Al Wifaq, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski, second left, visits with Sheikh Ali Salman, head of Wifaq National Islamic Society, left, former member of the Bahraini parliament, Abdul Jalil Khalil, second right, Timothy J. Pounds, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Bahrain, right, and others at a traditional weekly Ramadan gathering or Majlis, in Manama Bahrain. Bahrain ordered Malinowski to leave the country on Monday after they said he met with a leading Shiite opposition group Sunday. The Foreign Ministry said Malinowski intervened in the country's domestic affairs by holding meetings with some groups at the expense of others. Al Wifaq spokesman Abdul Jalil Khalil told The Associated Press that Malinowski was scheduled to hold a joint meeting with them and other opposition groups on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Al Wifaq) | Uncredited

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — A senior U.S. diplomat who was ordered to leave the Middle Eastern nation of Bahrain after meeting with a leading Shiite opposition group said Tuesday that the American ally’s move appears aimed at undermining reconciliation efforts between the government and the opposition.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski made the comments on his Twitter feed a day after Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said he is not welcome in the strategic island nation, which has long hosted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Middle East World