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US democracy rep expelled from Bahrain
MANAMA - Bahrain’s decision to expel the representative of a US-based pro-democracy organization from the country has triggered concerns over US-Bahrain relations prior to upcoming elections. The head of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) office in Manama, Fawzi Guleid, had been given till Friday to leave the country after his permit visa expired and the government refused to renew it.

Guleid would not comment on the decision but he reportedly began preparation to leave the country after being informed of the government’s decision.
"Hasta-la-bye-bye!"
The Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD), formed by the government late last year, had demanded that NDI seek prior approval of contacts with Bahraini civic groups. NDI, which promotes democracy worldwide and is affiliated with the US Democratic Party, was invited to Bahrain to help the nascent democratic transformation after the launch of reforms in 2001.

The group began operating in early 2002, ahead of Bahrain’s first municipal and parliamentary elections in almost three decades. In 2005, NDI came under attack by Islamist members of Bahrain’s parliament, who questioned whether the Washington-based institute was serving US interests and accused it of violating Bahraini law banning foreign bankrolling of local political activities.
Something which with the Democrats have experience.

Posted by: Steve White 2006-05-10
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=151378