Bahrain legislators split along sectarian lines

Manama: Bahrain's lower house appeared once more divided along sectarian faults after Sunnis endorsed and Shiites rejected a communique on the latest developments on the Saudi-Yemeni borders.

Sunni MPs suggested issuing the communique during the weekly session on Tuesday, saying they wanted to show solidarity with the Saudis as they defended their territories.

However, Al Wefaq, the largest parliamentary bloc, said the communique would be interference in the domestic affairs of other countries and as such it did not want to be part of it.

Some of Al Wefaq's MPs said the lower house had not issued communiques on other conflicts in other areas and should not change its policy.

However, despite Al Wefaq's reluctance, the lower house voted to issue the communique.

The Shura Council, the upper house of the bicameral parliament, on Monday issued a strongly-worded communique praising the Saudis and expressing solidarity with them.

King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa also on Monday sent a letter to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, congratulating the Saudi monarch on the prowess of his armed forces.

"Any assault on Saudi Arabia's security is an assault on Bahrain for we are one country and one people. We have full confidence in the capabilities of Saudi Arabia and its valiant armed forces in resisting any attempt on its security," King Hamad said.