Iran urges UN to help stop 'killing' of Bahrainis

AFP— Iran has demanded intervention from the United Nations Security Council "to stop the killing of the people of Bahrain," state media reported on Friday.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made the demand in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, news agency IRNA said.

It said that in his letter, Salehi "regretted the inaction of the Security Council, while in similar situations in the region, the council's attitude was different."

"The revolt of the people of Bahrain is identical to the revolts in Tunisia, Egypt and the revolt of the majority of the people (in Bahrain) aims to meet legitimate rights."

Salehi also criticised the sending of Saudi troops to Bahrain to suppress the revolt.

"The situation in Bahrain has no military solution and use of foreign forces to suppress the population is not a solution and it only further complicates the situation," Salehi said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran cannot remain indifferent as the continuing crisis in Bahrain... to destabilise the Persian Gulf region will have consequences for the world."

The ISNA news agency reported a demonstration outside the Bahraini embassy in Tehran on Friday "against the killing of Bahrainis by Saudi forces."

It said the protesters chanted slogans against the ruling dynasties in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and also burned Israeli and American flags.

State television reported similar demonstrations in other towns, notably in Ahvaz in the southwest Khuzestan province which has a Sunni Muslim minority.

Iran, like Bahrain a predominantly Shiite country, has repeatedly condemned the suppression of protests and the deployment of Saudi forces in the Sunni-ruled country.

Manama has accused the Iranian authorities of supporting the events led by Bahraini Shiites who form the majority of the population in the country.