Following weeks of anti-government protests, Bahrain’s rulers have invited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to deploy 1,000 and 500 troops respectively to help stabilise the tiny Kingdom and protect its key infrastructure. Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, but its population is 65-75% Shi’a. The Shi’a want major changes to the Kingdom’s… [Read more]
Bahrain is the only Gulf Arab state to have witnessed large-scale public unrest since popular uprisings toppled the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents in recent weeks. As of Friday, 18 February, the Kingdom was bracing for more protests following the security forces’ dispersal of demonstrators in the capital Manama’s Pearl Square the previous day. The Bahraini… [Read more]
Early returns from Iraq’s national elections suggest that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Alliance is on track to secure the highest number of seats of any party in the next parliament, and that he himself is well placed to retain his post. If Maliki does stay on in his role, this should ensure… [Read more]