§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What matters were raised by the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Sheik Mohammed bin Mubarak al-khalifa when he saw the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 13 January 1996; what was understood by his request, reported in Al-Hayat newspaper, 'to assist in maintaining security of the Gulf' and what information they have about the arrest on 15 January of Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)Several issues of bilateral and regional concern were discussed, including Gulf security.
The article in the Al-Hayat newspaper of 13 January makes no reference to a request to assist in maintaining security of the Gulf.
I understand that Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain's arrest reportedly followed a warning from the Bahraini authorities not to use mosques for political activities which might lead to civil disorder.