Bahrain backs Saudi plan to unify six Persian Gulf Arab states: report

(From R to L) the UAE premier, Bahrain’s King Hamad, Saudi King Abdullah, Omani deputy premier, the Qatari ruler and the Kuwaiti king (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/05/13/241046/bahrain-saudi-plan-unify-arab-states/

Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has declared Manama’s support for a Saudi plan to unify the six Arab states of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council, a report says.

According to a report published by the Saudi newspaper al-Riyadh on Sunday, the Bahraini premier said the “option of a union has become urgent.”

Riyadh is reportedly seeking to initially merge with Manama in line with a proposal to unify the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Leaders of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council states are expected to meet and discuss the Saudi proposal on May 14. The Arab states claim the purpose of the unity is to counter regional threats.

In December 2011, Saudi King Abdullah called on the council members to move “beyond the stage of cooperation and into the stage of unity in a single entity.”

The Bahraini premier told al-Riyadh the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council must “concentrate during this period on achieving and ensuring security and increasing coordination in the fields of security, military and defense by adopting a unified [Persian] Gulf security structure to protect the council’s states.”

Bahraini Information Minister Samira Rajab said on Saturday the idea of Arab union could follow the “European Union model.”

The report by al-Riyadh comes as Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of the main Bahraini opposition group, al-Wefaq, censured the unity proposal on Sunday, demanding a referendum on the issue to be held in all the six Arab countries.

“Bahrain gained its independence (in 1971) following a referendum” overseen by the United Nations, Salman said in a speech.

The Bahraini opposition leader also stated that the people of Bahrain “alone have the right” to decide and the ruling Al Khalifa regime has “no right to decide a union or confederation with any country.”

A committee of representatives from the six Arab states will submit its findings on the Saudi proposal to the meeting on Monday.

Omanis hold demos to call for reform

Thousands attended peaceful demonstrations in Sohar and other cities in Oman on Friday

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168235.html

Hundreds of Omanis have demonstrated peacefully in the cities of Sohar, Salalah, and the capital Muscat to call for political reform and an increase in the minimum wage.

On Friday, around 500 protestors, mostly young men, demanded punishment for corrupt officials, a cabinet reshuffle, and an increase in the minimum wage. A large number of people joined in and even held prayers at the protest venues, news agencies reported.

The demonstrators said they wanted a bigger voice in the government and called for the all-appointed advisory council to be transformed into a full-fledged parliament in the Persian Gulf sultanate, which lies on the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Security forces were on full alert but stayed in the background to prevent any clashes like the one that occurred last week, which resulted in a number of casualties, DPA reported.

Over the past week, Oman's Sultan Qaboos has made some changes, pledging to create 50,000 new jobs for Omani citizens and to allocate benefits for the unemployed.

Political analysts note that, in contrast to the recent events in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and Libya, in Oman the criticism has not been directed at the country's ruler himself.

They say that the demonstrations, fueled by political and social grievances, which suddenly shattered the calm in the normally placid Oman, show that no Arab country is immune from the wave of discontent sweeping across the Arab world.

The demonstrations in Oman began on February 26, after the mass protests that toppled the long-time leaders of Tunisia and Egypt spread to other countries in the region, including Bahrain and Yemen.

On Wednesday, hundreds of Omanis demonstrated in support of Sultan Qaboos as more than 400 activists camped outside the consultative council to protest against corruption and demand higher wages.