Saudi and Bahrain expected to seek union: minister

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Saudi and Bahrain expected to seek union: minister

By Andrew Hammond and Angus McDowall

DUBAI/RIYADH | Sun May 13, 2012 2:16pm EDT

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are expected to announce closer political union at a meeting of Gulf Arab leaders on Monday, a Bahraini minister said, a move dismissed by the opposition as a ruse to avoid political reform.

The decision is part of a strategy to increase integration within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as the organization's six nations fret about Iran's power in the region and the presence of al Qaeda after the Arab uprisings.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain might initially seek closer union, local media have said, as both share a concern about discontent among Shi'ite Muslims against their ruling Sunni dynasties, and accuse Shi'ite Iran of fomenting it - a charge Iran denies.

Saudi security forces entered Bahrain in March 2011 ahead of a crackdown on pro-democracy protests which had been led mainly by majority Shi'ite Muslims against the Sunni Al Khalifa monarchy, a U.S. ally.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/13/us-gulf-union-idUSBRE84C07120120513

[mazzarro]

1. This might turn out to be the biggest mistake of Saudi Arabia

The combined Shi'ite population might seek to coorperate in revolting against the union of the kingdoms and hasten their demise - IMHO.