The United States said Wednesday that its key Bahrain ally took "an important first step" in setting up an independent panel of legal experts to probe the bloody crackdown on anti-regime protests.
The United States "welcomes King Hamad's announcement that he's forming an independent committee to investigate" the events of February and March, State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said told reporters.
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The announcement came after a Saudi official said Gulf troops sent to back Bahraini security forces in their crackdown on Shiite-led protests are to be "redeployed" but will not withdraw completely.
"It is normal to redeploy the Peninsula Shield force but the danger is not over yet and these forces will not return to their bases or entirely withdraw," the official told AFP.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, refused to give any further details on the movements of the joint force, which is mainly made up of Saudi and Emirati troops.
Kuwait also took part in the Bahrain operation by sending naval forces.
In mid-March, the troops from Bahrain's Arab neighbours in the Gulf freed up the security forces of the Shiite-majority, Sunni-ruled kingdom to crush pro-refo
"This decision to appoint a committee of distinguished experts with considerable human rights experience to oversee the investigation process is a step in the right direction," Toner said.
"This is an important first step," he added after pointing out that Washington expected the committee to have broad authority to review the bloody crackdown on anti-regime protests.
"Any kind of accountability process needs to be transparent, needs to have this.... kind of broad authority to be able to look into all matters, talk to all people involved, and to get answers that will have credibility," he said.
"We're pleased that the government of Bahrain is taking significant and positive steps to promote reconciliation and to ease the path to political accommodation," he said, reading a statement.
"We hope the efforts of the investigation committee will help restore confidence and trust as Bahrain moves towards the beginning of a national dialogue."
The announcement comes ahead of Saturday's scheduled opening of a national dialogue convened by the king to revive political reforms following the repression of protests.
The Shiite opposition has not yet confirmed whether it will participate in the dialogue.
"We call on all participants to engage constructively in an effort to produce reforms that will respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Bahraini people," Toner said.
"We call on the government to ensure the fullest and most representative participation possible."
