Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke by phone today to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. In discussing regional developments with her Saudi counterpart, the Secretary underscored the necessity of restraint by the security forces in Bahrain. She also noted that the United States has welcomed steps by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the full spectrum of Bahraini society. Secretary Clinton expressed hope that Bahrain’s friends in the region and internationally will support this initiative as a constructive path to preserve Bahrain’s stability and help meet the aspirations of all of Bahrain’s people. The Secretary also indicated that the United States is encouraged by reports His Majesty King Abdullah will return soon to Saudi Arabia.
