Bahrain denies reports linking suspects with armed groups

Manama: Bahrain's National Security Agency (NSA) has denied as "baseless and lacking credibility" media reports linking suspects arrested in Bahrain and alleged armed groups and sleeper cells.

The reports claimed the alleged groups and cells were ready to target Arabian Gulf countries if Iran was attacked.

A report published in Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas last week alleged the existence of sleeping cells in several Gulf countries which were ready to strike at local interests in case of an attack on Iran.

The report, and a Bahraini statement about the arrest of Bahraini suspects who were members of an alleged network that received funds to undermine the country's stability, have sparked media speculations about links between the groups.

In the statement issued on Sunday evening, the NSA also denied the existence of ties or links between the suspects arrested in Bahrain and Iran, saying investigations had revealed that the Bahrain network had external links with outlaws who called for acts of terror and sabotage and that nothing else had been proven.

The agency said that it hoped the media would not use the issue in an inaccurate context and stressed that Bahrain and Iran had an agreement to reinforce bilateral security and stability.

Last week, Iran distanced itself from the recent wave of clashes in Bahrain, saying that countries with an agenda to target the region were behind the incitement to acts of violence, arson and destruction of property.

Iran's Ambassador to Bahrain, Hussain Amir Abdullahian, said: "The instigators of the current violence in Bahrain are people working for countries with negative plans for the region."

"Iran does not approve any form of violence and dialogue remains the best option to express oneself, particularly under the democracy and reforms launched in Bahrain under King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa," the ambassador told Bahraini daily Al Bilad, but without naming any of the countries commanding violence.