Bahrain expels senior US official over intervention in Internal affairs

The ministry said in a statement that US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski is not welcome in Bahrain.

It said he intervened in the country’s domestic affairs by holding meetings with some groups at the expense of others.

The statement said that such meetings “segregate” the people of the nation. His actions, added the statement, “run counter to conventional diplomatic norms”.

Despite the diplomatic spat, the Foreign Ministry statement said relations between Bahrain and the US remain strong and important. “The government of Bahrain asserts that this should not in any way affect the two countries’ relationship of mutual interests,” the statement said.

Malinowski was ordered to leave after meeting Bahrain’s opposition group, Al Wifaq. He arrived in the country on Sunday and was scheduled to stay for three days, but his visit was cut short by the abrupt order to depart a day early. He also had meetings scheduled with government officials.

Two US officials in Washington confirmed that Malinowski has been ordered to leave but is still there while the logistics of his departure are worked out. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

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