Bahrain urges Britain to protect kingdom's embassy

Bahrain's foreign ministry has urged Britain to protect the Gulf kingdom's embassy in London after two opposition supporters climbed onto its roof in a protest against the island's Sunni rulers.

The ministry is calling on Britain to provide the "necessary protection for the embassy premises and its diplomats" after the incident in London when the two protesters climbed onto the roof and unfurled a banner against the Gulf state's ruling family.

The ministry's statement late Monday also called on Britain to take legal action against the two protesters.

Bahrain is in the grips of a 14-month Shiite uprising against its Sunni rulers. The unrest could complicate efforts by Formula One to hold the Bahrain Grand Prix in four days.