The Sunni monarch, who rules over a majority of Shiites, thanks troops of neighbouring countries for help in suppressing revolt. In Yemen, the President dismisses the government. The Yemeni army chief officially announces support for democracy protests.

Manama (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has reported a foreign conspiracy against his rule, a foiled plot, and he thanked the troops from neighbouring countries in Bahrain for helping to stop the protests, which have lasted for weeks. " An external plot has been fomented for 20 to 30 years until the ground was ripe for subversive designs ... I here announce the failure of the fomented plot," reported the state agency, citing the sovereign. He added that if the plot had succeeded, it could have spread to neighbouring states.

The population of Bahrain has a Shiite majority, led by a Sunni group who hold power. Iran, which backs the Shia in Iraq and Lebanon has protested to the UN for the violent repression of the past week in Bahrain. (See AsiaNews 03/16/2011: Bahrain clamps down on revolt. At least two die in Pearl square). Bahrain yesterday expelled the Iranian charge d'affaires, the Iranian ambassador was expelled a few days earlier. In response, Tehran has expelled the diplomat from Bahrain. Bahrain has complained that Iranian television Al Alam, as well as the channel of Hezbollah in Lebanon, have broadcast messages of incitement to rebellion and insulted the country.

In Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh dismissed the government, perhaps the first step towards forming a national unity government after the violent clashes on Friday that killed at least 52 people. Immediately after the fighting a state of emergency was proclaimed for a period of 30 days. In protest against the repression, some ministers have given their resignations, followed by two ambassadors. Today one of the leading Yemeni army officers, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, announced he has switched to the side of rebels seeking the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Announcing that ''we support and protect young people protesting in University Square in Sanaa'' said the general, who commands the first armoured division. This is the first official of that rank to defect since the protest movement against the regime began last January which has so far caused dozens of deaths. After the announcement around a massive deployment of tanks was reported around the presidential palace.

• Bahrain
• Yemen
• protests
• democracy
• regime
• army
• ambassadors
• deaths