UK reviews arms export decisions to Bahrain

LONDON -- Britain's government says it is urgently reviewing arms export licenses to Bahrain in light of violence in the Persian Gulf kingdom .

The Foreign Office's Middle East and North Africa minister Alistair Burt says Britain will revoke the licenses if they are judged to be used for facilitating internal repression and human rights abuses.

He said in a statement Thursday that exports approved in the past nine months include tear gas cartridges and other equipment that can be used for riot control.

He said the tear gas cartridges were approved for trial and evaluation purposes by Bahrain's Defense Force and National Security Agency.

Police in Bahrain have fired tear gas and used clubs against demonstrators. Medical officials said four people were killed.


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