Bahrain and Iraq were quick on Friday to contain the repercussions of the attack by protesters on the Bahraini Embassy that prompted Manama to recall its ambassador from Baghdad.
On Thursday night, some 200 protesters burned the Israeli flag in front of the embassy before storming it in protest against the Manama-hosted workshop earlier this week that saw the participation of Israeli officials to discuss economic aspects of the yet undisclosed US peace plan for the Middle East.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim phoned his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to express Baghdad’s condemnation of the attack.
He hoped the incident would not “undermine diplomatic relations” between the two countries.
On Friday, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held a phone call with Iraqi President Barham Salih to commend the Iraqi government stance in the aftermath of the attack, as well as the measures it has taken to provide necessary protection.
For his part, Salih stressed his country’s keenness on consolidating fraternal and historic relations between Bahrain and Iraq.
He said that Iraq does not allow anyone to harm these relations, hailing Bahrain’s brotherly positions in support of Iraq in all circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 54 people for their involvement in the attack.
On Friday, both the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed their strong condemnation of the attack.
The United Arab Emirates also strongly condemned the incident, deeming it a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and conventions.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) called on the Iraqi government to live up to its responsibility toward international obligations and conventions, which guarantee diplomatic security and immunity.
