US Defense secretary arrives in Bahrain

Ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Issa Bin Salman al-Khalifa today received US Defense Secretary William Cohen and members of his accompanying delegation. The Gulf News Agency said the two sides discussed current developments in the region in light of the Iraqi crisis with the US.

Sheikh Issa stressed the need to intensify efforts to find a diplomatic settlement to the crisis in order to avert grave consequences to the region that a US strike against Iraq would cause.

Sheikh Issa called upon Iraq to implement UN resolutions and permit UNSCOM to carry out its tasks. Cohen was also received by Bahraini Premier Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman al-Khalifa and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Thani on the occasion of visiting Bahrain in conclusion of his tour on the states of the Gulf region.