Egypt says Arab identity of Gulf a 'red line'

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

CAIRO — Egypt said on Wednesday Gulf states' Arab identity is a "red line" after they accused Iran of trying to destabilise Bahrain, while praising a Saudi-led force that quelled pro-democracy protests there.
In a statement, Egypt's foreign minister Nabil al-Arabi said "the stability and Arabhood of the Arab Gulf countries is a red line against which Egypt rejects any trespass."
The statement was in response to an Gulf ministerial meeting on Monday that accused Iran of interfering in Bahrain and Kuwait in a bid to destabilise the region.
The protests in Bahrain were spearheaded by the country's marginalised Shiite majority, prompting Gulf states to accuse Shiite Iran of orchestrating the protests in the Sunni-led country.
The government says 24 people including four policemen were killed in the crackdown, which according to the United Nations saw arbitrary arrests and killings and seizure of medical facilities.
Bahraini police have been reinforced with more than 1,000 armoured troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, but the foreign forces have kept a low profile.
Arabi said that Gulf countries "succeeded in moving in a coordinated fashion to preserve the security of Bahrain, giving a practical application to the concept of collective security in the Gulf region."
The minister, himself appointed to his post by virtue of a pro-democracy movement that toppled the former regime in February, also "welcomed the results of the latest ministerial meeting for the Gulf Cooperation Council."
Egypt itself has had no formal diplomatic relations with Iran for decades but Arabi said earlier this week his country wished to improve ties with the Islamic republic.
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