U.S. Prods Saudis to Promote Dialogue in Bahrain
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she has prodded Saudi Arabia to support a peaceful reform process in Bahrain amid increasing U.S. concerns about sectarian violence in the country.
Clinton said she spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Tuesday and stressed that "they along with everyone else need to be promoting the dialogue" between Bahrain's Sunni monarchy and a Shiite-led protest movement.
More than 1,000 Saudi-led troops entered Bahrain Monday. The U.S. has expressed concern about the deployment but Clinton said Bahrain's government had a right to ask for help to keep order.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But speaking in Cairo, Clinton said reports of provocations and sectarian violence risked worsening the situation in Bahrain. She said the sides "must take steps now to negotiate toward a political solution."