Bahrain's Shia Opposition Bloc Accused Of Interfering in Yemen Internal Affairs

Manama, Bahrain- The largest Shia opposition bloc in Bahrain parliament has been accused by a lawmaker of meddling in internal affairs of Yemen and supporting separatists.

Al Wefaq bloc has challenged claims by an outspoken lawmaker that their party has strong ties with Al Houth rebel group from Yemen.The allegation by Conservative Sunni MP Shaikh Jassim Al Saidi against the Conservative Shia bloc has caused a divide among political factions in the Kingdom.

"This is outright lying. Our bloc respects the sovereignty of Yemen and enjoys good relations with their government," Al Wefaq MP Jalal Fairooz told American Chronicle.

Al Saidi alleged that key members of the rebel group visited Bahrain and met with Al Wefaq leaders. The MP backed his stance as he claims he possessed evidence.

" I have concrete evidence which clearly shows Al Wefaq support for Al Houth rebels. Such meetings are illegal under Bahrain law and will cause instability and affect Bahrain- Yemeni relations," the Salafist MP said.

But Al Wefaq is no mood to give up and is calling upon concerned Bahrain officials to investigate the evidence."There is no evidence, this is merely cheap tactics by the MP to promote his agenda of sectarianism. If he possessed any evidence, then why were these not submitted to government bodies? If there is no proof, Al Saidi should stand on trial," Fairooz stressed.

Responding to this, Al Saidi said he would submit the evidence to the Ministry of Interior- ´at the right time.´

This is not the first time Houthi issue is being linked with the Kingdom, a close US ally.In 2007, Bahraini Interior Minister Lt.General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said that his ministry received no information about any Bahraini´s involved in supporting Al Houthis in Yemen. His comments came after a statement by Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi´s which mentioned that Yemen had material evidence of non-governmental groups in Bahrain suspected to have links with Houthis.

"We are not currently aware of any information about Bahrainis supporting the rebellion in Yemen, but we are ready to probe any person or group of people who could be with the Houthi rebels. Bahrain is keen not to interfere in other nations´ affairs,"Shaikh Rashid said in a statement to local Arabic daily Al Ayam newspaper here.The minister said Bahrain had sought information from the Yemeni authorities, mainly about the names and identities of the Bahrainis allegedly supporting the Houthi.

A Bahraini delegation of security personnel led by the Deputy Chief of public security, Brigadier General Tariq Mubarak Bin Daina later held talks with Yemeni Interior Minister Rashid Mohammad Al-Alimi in Sana´a . The main agenda of the meet was to investigate allegations of Bahraini´s involvement to support the separatists.

Al Houth group rebels been battling since 2004 to restore the Zaidi imamate which ruled in the Yemeni capital, Sana´a until 1962. An offshoot of Shiite Islam, the Zaidis are a minority in mainly Sunni Yemen, but form the majority in the north. It is fighting against the Yemeni government and according to reports in Yemen dailies has led to death of hundreds of civilians and soldiers.

Bahrain and Yemen in September 2005 signed an agreement on security cooperation and intelligence-sharing in the war on terror. The accord covers cooperation on fighting terrorism and organised crime and the extradition of wanted terrorists.Bahrain has bicameral legislature- The Chamber of Deputies elected by the citizens and the Shura(Consultative) Council whose members are appointed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Both the Houses have 40 members each who serve a four year term. The Kingdom shares its border with the oil rich Saudi Arabia and is home to the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

SANDEEP SINGH GREWAL is a journalist based in Bahrain.