Bahrain summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires for allegedly breaching diplomatic norms by repeatedly “interfering in the internal political affairs of the kingdom”, it said on Thursday.
The incident was not related to commercial disputes between the two countries, said Mohammed Issa Al Abbasi, spokesman for Bahrain’s National Communication Centre.
The summoning of Moayad Abdul Rahman, followed by an official protest note, was “based on his repeated violations of diplomatic norms, including his interference in the internal political affairs” of Bahrain, said Mr Al Abbasi.
“It is not related in any way to commercial arrangements in the field of transport between the two countries,” he said.
Mr Al Abbasi praised the decision of Iraq's Foreign Ministry to return Mr Abdul Rahman to Baghdad.
State news agency BNA said on Tuesday that Mr Abdul Rahman made “repeated” violations and his “recent unacceptable behaviour” had interfered with the internal affairs of the kingdom.
It is not the first time that Bahrain has summoned diplomats in or from Iraq.
In April 2019, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires after comments made by Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada Al Sadr at the time, which Manama viewed as insulting.
Mr Al Sadr's comments represented “an unacceptable offence” against Bahrain and its leadership, the foreign ministry said in 2019.
In July 2019, the Bahraini foreign ministry summoned its ambassador to Iraq, Salah Al Maliki, for consultations after the storming of its embassy building in Baghdad by protesters.
In December 2018, Nihad Rajab Askar, who was then the deputy charge d'affaires of the embassy of Iraq to Bahrain, was summoned by Bahrain’s foreign ministry after former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki met with the February 14 movement, a Bahraini group which Manama designated a terrorist group in 2014.
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
