is committed to dialogue with the opposition but safety is a top priority and more troops arrive in the Gulf countries to help restore order after weeks of unrest, said Friday the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said that three or four Gulf countries were sending troops and forces in the nation would continue as long as necessary to bring calm after protests led by the Shiite majority in sectarian violence from escalating and compromised by the economy.
However, its role would be limited to strategic assets and guard oil installations, and would not intervene to quell the protests, told a press conference in Manama. "We look with confidence to return to normal life in Bahrain," Sheikh said. "We know that dialogue is our way," he added.
Bahrain, ruled by Sunni Arabs, arrested seven opposition leaders and took the streets to pro-democracy demonstrators after weeks of protests that led the king to declare martial law and the entry of troops from neighboring Saudi Arabia, also ruled by Sunnis. Three protesters were killed in the crackdown.
Three policemen were also killed, run over by cars driven by protesters. On Friday, a crane demolished the monument at the center of the Pearl Roundabout, focus of weeks of protests, in an attempt to eliminate "bad memories," said the chancellor. The ferocity of the repression, in which troops and police deployed throughout Bahrain, imposed a curfew and banned all public rallies and demonstrations, has shocked the Shiites of Bahrain.
Shouting "Down with King Hamad," thousands of people buried an activist killed in a crackdown that has enraged Iran and heightened tensions in the region that exports more oil in the world. Mourners carrying pictures of activist Ahmed Farhan, who died on Wednesday, followed by a car which transported his coffin.
A helicopter flew over the convoy and had tanks at the entrance of Sitra, where he was buried, but not dispersed the funeral. Sheikh Issa Qassim, the most influential Shiite cleric in Bahrain, said in his sermon on Friday that troops in the Gulf would be better to help the Palestinians in Gaza entering Bahrain and thanked those who died or resigned in the revolt.
"The violence of the authorities has created a deep wound, large and dangerous between the Government and people," he said. "The government wants to break our will so we strip off our call for substantial and meaningful reforms, but never break our will. They can use tanks and crush our bodies but never break our arms and our commitment to reform," he added.
Sheikh Khaled said, however, that the royals had done everything possible to enable dialogue, allowing the protests and providing guarantees, but the opposition has rejected the talks and began blocking the main streets, where civilians began to face daily . "In volatile situations expect violence, but no systematic violence against the people," he said. 
However, its role would be limited to strategic assets and guard oil installations, and would not intervene to quell the protests, told a press conference in Manama. "We look with confidence to return to normal life in Bahrain," Sheikh said. "We know that dialogue is our way," he added.
Bahrain, ruled by Sunni Arabs, arrested seven opposition leaders and took the streets to pro-democracy demonstrators after weeks of protests that led the king to declare martial law and the entry of troops from neighboring Saudi Arabia, also ruled by Sunnis. Three protesters were killed in the crackdown.
Three policemen were also killed, run over by cars driven by protesters. On Friday, a crane demolished the monument at the center of the Pearl Roundabout, focus of weeks of protests, in an attempt to eliminate "bad memories," said the chancellor. The ferocity of the repression, in which troops and police deployed throughout Bahrain, imposed a curfew and banned all public rallies and demonstrations, has shocked the Shiites of Bahrain.
Shouting "Down with King Hamad," thousands of people buried an activist killed in a crackdown that has enraged Iran and heightened tensions in the region that exports more oil in the world. Mourners carrying pictures of activist Ahmed Farhan, who died on Wednesday, followed by a car which transported his coffin.
A helicopter flew over the convoy and had tanks at the entrance of Sitra, where he was buried, but not dispersed the funeral. Sheikh Issa Qassim, the most influential Shiite cleric in Bahrain, said in his sermon on Friday that troops in the Gulf would be better to help the Palestinians in Gaza entering Bahrain and thanked those who died or resigned in the revolt.
"The violence of the authorities has created a deep wound, large and dangerous between the Government and people," he said. "The government wants to break our will so we strip off our call for substantial and meaningful reforms, but never break our will. They can use tanks and crush our bodies but never break our arms and our commitment to reform," he added.
Sheikh Khaled said, however, that the royals had done everything possible to enable dialogue, allowing the protests and providing guarantees, but the opposition has rejected the talks and began blocking the main streets, where civilians began to face daily . "In volatile situations expect violence, but no systematic violence against the people," he said.
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