AHRAM ONLINE: Qatar officials acknowledges sending troops to Bahrain as part of GCC forces
Qatari troops are part of the Gulf forces deployed to Bahrain to put down Shiite-led protests against the Sunni dynasty there, said a Qatari military official.
"The duty of the Qatari force participating in the Peninsula Shield force is to contribute in restoring order and security" in Bahrain, Qatar news agency QNA quoted Colonel Abdullah Al-Hajri as saying late Thursday.
This is the first official confirmation of Qatar's contribution to Gulf troops in Bahrain.
"As a Qatari force we are receiving our orders from the head of the joint Peninsula Shield Force. There are no Qatari forces outside the Peninsula Shield" in Bahrain, Hajri said.
Earlier this week, more than 1,000 Saudi troops and around 500 Emirati troops entered the strategic Gulf kingdom, home to the US Fifth Fleet.
The move was met with strong criticism from Iran and followed by Tehran and Manama withdrawing their respective ambassadors. » | AFP | Friday, March 18, 2011
