Bahraini dailies Thursday continued slamming the claims of the Iranian supreme leader's media advisor Hussain Shariatmadari that Bahrain is part of Iran. The dailies rejected the claim, which questioned Bahrain's sovereignty.
"We have the right to be intrigued by the silence of the Iranian government and its evasion from giving an official comment on Shariatmadari's provocative statements," the daily al Ayam wrote in a front-page editorial. "The government and the people of Bahrain are appalled by the insulting statements claiming that Bahrain was part of iran," it said.
"Out of its confidence and pride in its identity, sovereignty and independence, Bahrain calls upon the Iranian leadership to break this suspicious silence and clarify its stance on these shameless statements," the paper said. It stressed that "Bahrain will be able, with the strong will of its people, to firmly confront this situation."
The editorial concluded by saying that the kingdom's insistence on a response from the Iranian leadership "comes out of its sincere desire to maintain good-neighbourly relations between the people of the two countries."
Another Bahraini daily al Methaq said Tehran had to issue an official statement denying the claims made by Shariatmadari challenging Bahrain's sovereignty. It also said Iran had to take steps regarding Shariatmadari, adding that it was "the least that could be done to maintain relations in a region facing dangers of international occupation."
The daily voiced Bahrain's hope that Shariatmadari's claims did not reflect the views of the Iranian leadership, adding that these were totally rejected by Bahrain.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
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