BBC News - MPs question UK relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

BBC News - MPs question UK relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain:

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Calls for reform and democracy in Bahrain have not gone away

The government can no longer ignore claims of hypocrisy over its relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, a report by a group of MPs has said.

The Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) said concerns over human rights were being juggled with the UK's lucrative trade and other strategic interests.

MPs said the Gulf region was critical to the UK, yet many states were among the "least democratic in the world".

But campaign Against the Arms Trade said the report was a whitewash.

In a statement, the pressure group accused the committee of "giving cover to the UK government as it continues the policy of pandering to despicable regimes in its desire to drum up sales for [the defence manufacturer] BAE Systems".

The controversial issue came under scrutiny in a 260-page report."

'via Blog this'