Bahrain's ruler meets British PM for talks

King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain meets David Cameron, the British prime minister, in Downing Street for talks on bilateral ties as well as regional issues. Omar Karmi reports from London

British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) greets King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain outside 10 Downing Street.

LONDON // King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain yesterday met David Cameron, the British prime minister, in Downing Street for talks on bilateral ties as well as regional issues.

On Egypt, a spokesperson for Mr Cameron said both leaders had agreed on the "need to end violence and find a successful political solution".

A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister welcomed Manama's plans to celebrate 200 years of Bahraini-British relations, next year.

Mr Cameron also urged political reform, the spokesman said.

"The prime minister reiterated the UK's support for ongoing political reform in Bahrain but encouraged His Majesty to continue to demonstrate substantive progress in all areas".

The meeting came as Bahraini legislators last week approved limitations on demonstrations in the capital, Manama, after a protest movement called for mass rallies on August 14.

King Hamad has endorsed the parliament's proposals, which also imposed tougher penalties for terrorist acts, including the possibility of stripping convicted persons of their nationality, the Bahrain News Agency reported.

The minimum sentence for anyone carrying out or planning a bombing was raised to 10 years imprisonment, increasing to life if fatalities occur.

Bahrain has been buffeted by unrest that has claimed more than 120 lives since early 2011, according to a Bahraini government commission of inquiry and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights..

British-Bahraini relations have come under scrutiny as a result and a British parliamentary inquiry into the two countries' ties has been under way for over a year.

Jamie Ingram, a Gulf analyst with IHS Jane's, a group of publications focused on intelligence and military affairs, said yesterday's meeting was noticeably "low-key", an attempt, he suggested, not to draw public protests in London.

The issue of Bahrain still figures "high enough" on the public radar, he said.

Such scrutiny has not affected trade, however. According to British government figures, exports to Bahrain grew by about 25 per cent in 2012. Nearly 100 British firms operate in the kingdom.

An open letter from six Bahraini human rights groups yesterday called on the UN, international human rights organisations and international media to scrutinise Bahrain ahead of August 14 call.

The letter also called on Bahrain's "closest allies", Mr Cameron and US president Barack Obama, to "end your active support of the government of Bahrain".

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