The sources said many EU nationals were warned to stay at home during
the confrontation between the Sunni kingdom and the Shi'ite majority. They
said the arrival of troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
could increase the prospect of bloodshed.
"Following an increase in protests over recent days, confrontations
between protestors and police on Sunday 13th March, reports of protesters
establishing roadblocks, and reports that the Bahraini Government has
invited fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members to deploy forces to help
them preserve law and order, we also advise British nationals currently in
Bahrain to remain at home until further notice," the British Foreign Office
said. "The risk of a further outbreak of violence has increased."
More than 4,500 GCC troops have already arrived in Bahrain, which
declared a three-month state of emergency. The Bahraini military said the
third batch of troops from the GCC's Peninsula Shield arrived on March 15
and would protect Bahraini facilities.
EU and other nationals have also been warned to stay away from major
highways, which could be blocked by the protesters. The diplomats said the
international airport in Manama remained open.
The demonstrations have also paralyzed much of the government and
diplomatic community. The diplomats said this has affected foreigners who
applied for visas and passports from their embassies.
"The embassy will work hard to ensure that those with urgent travel are
accommodated and would like to request those without immediate travel plans
to defer their applications until the situation has normalized," the
Philippine embassy said.