"The peaceful expression of people`s concerns should be met through dialogue."Berlin (ANTARA News/IRNA) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle here on Thursday strongly condemned the violent police crackdown on protesters in Bahrain which left at least four people dead and scores injured.
He urged Bahrain`s leadership to immediately refrain from using force and to better protect the demonstrators, who were `merely realizing their rights.`
Meanwhile, European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was quoted as saying in a statement that she was `very concerned` over the brutal security clampdown in the Persian Gulf sheikdom of Bahrain.
"The High Representative (Ashton) strongly deplores the loss of life and violence and calls for calm and restraint in this situation. She also calls on the Bahraini authorities to fully respect and protect the fundamental rights of their citizens, including the right to assemble peacefully," a spokeswoman for the EU`s top diplomat said.
"The peaceful expression of people`s concerns should be met through dialogue," the spokesperson added.
Bahrain has been the scene of violent popular protests over the past days.
(T.A051/M016)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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