Bahrain orders US democracy envoy to leave after he meets Syrian opposition
Bahrain asks democracy envoy Malinowski to leave, saying he meddled in kingdom's affairs
Bahrain has told a senior US diplomat who met representatives of the country's opposition that he is "unwelcome" in the kingdom and should "leave immediately".
The foreign ministry accused US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour Tom Malinowski, of meddling in Bahrain's internal affairs, in a statement published by the official BNA state news agency.
The ministry said Malinowski met "with a particular party to the detriment of other interlocutors", an apparent reference to the Shiite-led opposition in Sunni-ruled Bahrain.
It added that Malinowski "is unwelcome and should immediately leave the country, due to his interference in its internal affairs".
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday that Malinowski was still in Bahrain. "He is on a visit to reaffirm and strengthen our bilateral ties and to support his royal majesty King Hamad's reform and reconciliation efforts at an important time, particularly given events elsewhere in the region," she said.
Psaki said Malinowski's visit "had been coordinated far in advance and warmly welcomed and encouraged by the government of Bahrain, which is well aware that US government officials routinely meet with all officially recognised political societies.