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Bahrain asks Iranian envoy to leave Manama in 72 hours

Xinhua, October 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Bahrain government on Thursday gave a 72 hours ultimatum to the Iranian envoy to leave the country as tension increases between the two countries.

Authorities announced it had decided to withdraw its ambassador to Tehran Rashid Al Dossery and also asked the Iranian diplomat in Manama to leave the country as he was declared "persona non grata," the Bahrain News Agency reported.

"Iran continues to meddle in Bahrain's affairs with attempts to create sectarian strife and its leaders making hostile statements against the kingdom," said a government statement.

"It incites violence and supports terrorist groups by helping them smuggle weapons and explosives, provide logistics and training and also shelter fugitives," the statement said.

The government said Iran has violated international conventions and principles of good neighborliness by targeting the sovereignty of Bahrain.

The decision follows after Bahrain's Interior Ministry on Wednesday announced it had smashed an arms ring with links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hizbollah. Endit