The U.S. Fifth Fleet has increased its readiness in the wake of an attack by thousands of rioters on the nearby U.S. embassy in Bahrain.
    Gulf defense sources said the storming of the U.S. embassy in Manama has sparked concern in the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, responsible for the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. The sources said U.S. officers were ordered to increase security to avoid any infiltration by insurgents in the facility.
    "There is a lot of concern that anti-U.S. sentiment has yet to peak," a defense source said. "There is also a lot of anger that the Bahrainis were unable to stop the attack."
    The attack on April 6, in which one demonstrator was killed, came as U.S. military planners were drafting plans to increase assets in Bahrain as part of preparations for any war on Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. The plans were said to have included relocating aircraft and other equipment from Saudi Arabia to Manama.
    On April 6, the U.S. embassy in Manama was overrun by rioters who clashed with marine guards. Thousands of people torched embassy vehicles, hurled firebombs, smashed windows and broke into the compound.
    "Some demonstrators entered the embassy compound and set embassy vehicles on fire," a U.S. embassy statement said. "In response to this provocation, embassy security personnel fired tear gas cylinders to compel the intruders to leave the embassy ground. Embassy personnel did not fire at demonstrators."
    The Gulf sources said U.S. diplomats and military commanders are meeting Bahraini security chiefs to discuss new measures meant to increase the protection of Americans in the kingdom. The official Bahraini news agency reported that Bahraini Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa met U.S. ambassador Ronald Neumann.
    The sources said American military personnel have been ordered to stay off the streets of Manama unless on urgent business. The embassy in Manama urged Americans in Bahrain "to remain in low profile and avoid large gatherings."
    Bahrain Interior Minister Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa has ordered an investigation of the riot and said the demonstration was exploited by unnamed agitators. The minister pledged to take what he termed appropriate measures to ensure that the violence does not recur.
    But anti-U.S. demonstrations continued on April 7 as opposition groups have called for a termination of the Bahraini-U.S. military alliance. Thousands of demonstrators chanted "Death to America; death to Israel" and demanded the closure of the U.S. embassy.
    "We demand an end to the American-Bahraini alliance," a statement by the National Committee in Support of Palestinians said.
   

Print this Article

Email this article

Free Headline Alerts