LONDON - Britain on Feb. 18 revoked licenses for the export of some security equipment to Bahrain and Libya because of the risk it might be used to suppress anti-regime protests, the Foreign Office said.
A day after announcing a review of British arms export licenses, the government had decided to revoke 44 licenses for Bahrain and eight for Libya, said Alistair Burt, minister for the Middle East and North Africa.
Licenses for Yemen and other countries were under review.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was alarmed that Bahrani soldiers had fired on protestors and urged authorities to exercise restraint.
"I am alarmed by reports of soldiers firing on protestors in Bahrain," said a statement from Hague, who visited the Gulf state last week as part of a visit to the Middle East and North Africa. "This is an extremely worrying development."
Burt said licenses would not be issued "where we judge there is a clear risk that the proposed export might provoke or prolong regional or internal conflicts, or which might be used to facilitate internal repression."
"This government takes extremely seriously its export control responsibilities. Britain has some of the most rigorous export controls in the world," he added.
Burt added that the government had "no evidence of British equipment being used in the unrest in Bahrain."
A British government source said the revoked licenses were mainly for riot control equipment, including tear gas and rubber bullets.
France announced earlier in the day that it had suspended exports of security equipment to Libya and Bahrain.
Bahraini security forces opened fire Feb. 18 on anti-regime protesters in the capital Manama, wounding dozens, while demonstrations in Libya have cost at least 27 lives, a newspaper reported.
Hague urged authorities to show restraint.
"The circumstances of what happened are not yet clear, but I call on the Bahrain authorities to avoid violence and the use of excessive force and to exercise restraint," he said.
"The right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be respected."
He praised a pledge from Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to open a national dialogue once calm returns, urging Bahrain to take steps to "meet legitimate aspirations for greater social and political freedoms."
A day after announcing a review of British arms export licenses, the government had decided to revoke 44 licenses for Bahrain and eight for Libya, said Alistair Burt, minister for the Middle East and North Africa.
Licenses for Yemen and other countries were under review.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was alarmed that Bahrani soldiers had fired on protestors and urged authorities to exercise restraint.
"I am alarmed by reports of soldiers firing on protestors in Bahrain," said a statement from Hague, who visited the Gulf state last week as part of a visit to the Middle East and North Africa. "This is an extremely worrying development."
Burt said licenses would not be issued "where we judge there is a clear risk that the proposed export might provoke or prolong regional or internal conflicts, or which might be used to facilitate internal repression."
"This government takes extremely seriously its export control responsibilities. Britain has some of the most rigorous export controls in the world," he added.
Burt added that the government had "no evidence of British equipment being used in the unrest in Bahrain."
A British government source said the revoked licenses were mainly for riot control equipment, including tear gas and rubber bullets.
France announced earlier in the day that it had suspended exports of security equipment to Libya and Bahrain.
Bahraini security forces opened fire Feb. 18 on anti-regime protesters in the capital Manama, wounding dozens, while demonstrations in Libya have cost at least 27 lives, a newspaper reported.
Hague urged authorities to show restraint.
"The circumstances of what happened are not yet clear, but I call on the Bahrain authorities to avoid violence and the use of excessive force and to exercise restraint," he said.
"The right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be respected."
He praised a pledge from Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to open a national dialogue once calm returns, urging Bahrain to take steps to "meet legitimate aspirations for greater social and political freedoms."
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