UN team to assess political reforms in Bahrain

Geneva: The UN human rights office says it is sending four staff to Bahrain next month to assess progress toward its promised political and security reforms. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says the team will visit Bahrain  2 December to 6 December. The Geneva-based agency’s spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters Friday in Geneva that the visit is a follow-up to a similar mission a year ago in the wake of the kingdom’s anti-government uprising. [caption id=“attachment_533717” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Riot police arrest a Bahrain human rights activist. AP.[/caption] He says UN officials plan to meet with government ministers, rights groups and others regarding Bahrain’s judicial system and “accountability for present and past human rights violations and abuses.” At least 55 people have been killed in clashes between Bahraini authorities and Shiite-led protesters demanding a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. AP