Britons have been urged to leave Bahrain as a three-month state of emergency was imposed on the strife-torn Gulf state. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its advice and warned against all travel to Bahrain until further notice.
“As of the morning of March 16, our advice to British nationals remains to stay at home until further notice,” the FCO said. “We are assessing the security situation and we recommend that those without a pressing reason to remain should be ready to leave at short notice.”
The FCO added: “Following an increase in protests over recent days, confrontations between protestors and police, and the intervention of security forces, we continue to advise British nationals currently in Bahrain to remain at home until further notice.
“If you wish to leave, we advise you to prepare for your departure and to check this travel advice regularly for our latest assessment of the situation.” Several thousand Britons are estimated by the Government to be in the country.
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has imposed martial law by handing sweeping powers to security forces. Shops were shut and roads blocked yesterday in the capital Manama.