Bahrain cancels flights to Iran, Iraq and LebanonMarch 23, 2011 - 16:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Bahraini airlines have suspended flights to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, where Shiite communities have criticized the kingdom's response to Shiite-led protests in the Gulf state. On Friday, March 18 Bahrain carried out a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists demonstrating since February 14 in the tiny Shiite-majority, Sunni-ruled kingdom. Iran condemned last week's intervention of troops from neighboring Gulf states in support of Manama, while Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah has offered unspecified support for the Shiite-led Bahraini opposition. And thousands of protesters have turned out in Iraq in shows of support for Bahraini Shiites. One Gulf Air booking agent told AFP by telephone that cancellations to Iran and Iraq were due to "operational reasons." Another said: "What we know is that Gulf Air cancelled the flights. We don't know the reason." But another agent said: "Services have been cancelled by (the) Bahrain government for security reasons. You know the situation in Bahrain ... We don't have (any) idea" when they will resume. National carrier Gulf Air's website says its operations are "suspended until and including 31 March, 2011" of flights to Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz and Isfahan in Iran, and Baghdad, Najaf, Arbil and Basra in Iraq. Gulf Air and budget airline Bahrain Air have both called off flights to Lebanon "until further notice," the official BNA news agency said. An official of Bahrain Air said the airline does not have services to Iran or Iraq, while the company's website said flights to Lebanon have been called off until at least March 30, AFP reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Atom Egoyan film coming to Golden Apricot Yerevan Festival Canadian-Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s latest film, Seven Veils, is the opening film at GAIFF 2024. Armenia denies more of Azerbaijan’s ceasefire violations Yerevan has denied statements from Baku accusing the Armenian army of violating the ceasefire on the border with Azerbaijan. Israel warns of “serious consequences” after Armenia recognizes Palestine Dmitry Gendelman said the move will have “serious long-term consequences” for Israel-Armenia relations. French envoy travels to Armenia’s Syunik French ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies visited the town of Goris in the country’s southern Syunik province. |