Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini opposition figure Ali Al-Aswad said that the Qatari mediation, which Sheikh Ali Salman is now being accused of, was done with the knowledge of Saudi Arabia and organized by its foreign minister (Saud Al-Faisal).

Commenting on the Public Prosecution's interrogation of Al-Wefaq Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman about his communications with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim, Al-Aswad said: "Everything that was mentioned in this call was under the scrutiny of the Royal Court and the highest authorities in Bahrain. It is 6-year-old event and nothing new."

"Sheikh Salman is being targeted today due to a phone call which only discusses a political solution and how to spare the country any difficulties or security clashes," he said, adding that "this is proof of the authorities' failure to reach a political solution with the opposition in the country."
Al-Aswad went on to say that the the Bahraini authorities use of this issue after its dispute with Qatar is a very cheap move and far from diplomacy and the simplest known political concepts."

He urged the authorities of Bahrain and the Royal Court to publish the entire conversation  without editing, so that everyone would know they talked about a political solution, calling on the international and European bodies that were aware of this issue to issue clear statements on their positions regarding this issue.

Al-Aswad further stressed that all the accusations raised against the secretary-general of Al-Wefaq are null and void, and are very far from his way of thinking, principles and what Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society stands for.

Arabic Version