Manama: Saudi-led forces sent to Bahrain to help crush anti-government protests will remain even after emergency rule is lifted next month, the head of the kingdom's military said in a move that is likely to deepen regional tensions with Iran.
Iran has condemned the 1,500-strong Gulf Arab force in Bahrain as an "occupation" by Gulf against Bahrain's Shiite majority, which has faced waves of arrests and deadly crackdowns after beginning protests for greater rights three months ago.
Gulf leaders warn Iran
In response, Gulf leaders have sharply warned Iran to stay out of their affairs and accused Bahrain's protesters of having links to groups such as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
The Bahrain military commander, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, also threatened even harsher crackdowns if demonstrators return to the streets in the strategic U.S. ally, which is home to the Navy's 5th Fleet.
"I say to those who did not get the message, 'If you return we will come back, stronger this time,'" Shaikh Ahmad was quoted as saying late Wednesday by the official Bahrain News Agency.
He further claimed that protesters were "given pills which affected their minds and made them do unusual things" - a new allegation that echoed assertions by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi that his opponents included young people on hallucinogenic pills placed "in their coffee with milk, like Nescafe."
Bahrain's King said the emergency rule will be lifted June 1. But the military chief's statements suggest a heavy security presence will remain along with the Saudi-led troops.
