* Posner: Govt, protesters must refrain from violence
* Uprising anniversary approaches
* Bahrain key U.S. ally, hosts U.S. Fifth Fleet
(Adds quotes, background)
MANAMA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Bahrain has taken "important
steps" towards reform, but needs to do more to heal the rifts
left after it crushed a pro-democracy uprising last year, a
senior U.S. official said during a visit to the Gulf state on
Thursday.
Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner also called for
restraint from the government and anti-government protesters
ahead of the Feb. 14 anniversary of the uprising. Violence has
escalated in recent clashes between police and youths.
Almost a year after the protests, quickly put down with help
from Saudi troops, police still clash daily with youths in
mainly Shi'ite Muslim neighbourhoods who complain of political
and economic marginalisation by the Sunni ruling elite.
"We call on all Bahrainis to refrain from violence... (It)
is a moment for all Bahrainis to come together, to move beyond
the pain of last year," Posner told reporters.
"We continue to receive credible reports of excessive force
by police, including widespread and sometimes indiscriminate use
of tear gas."
Bahrain, host to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, is a key ally to
Washington and Saudi Arabia in their dispute with non-Arab
Shi'ite power Iran over its nuclear energy programme.
Some opposition activists accused Washington of standing by
while Bahrain crushed the democracy movement, after uprisings in
Egypt and Tunisia succeeded in bringing about a change of ruler.
Posner's visit comes after the State Department said last
month it would go ahead with a sale of $1 million of equipment
to Bahrain while maintaining "a pause on most security
assistance for Bahrain pending further progress on reform".
Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that decision sent a
wrong signal to Bahrain.
"Bahrain has made many promises to cease abuses and hold
officials accountable, but it hasn't delivered," said Maria
McFarland, the group's deputy Washington director.
"Protesters remain jailed on criminal charges for peacefully
speaking out and there has been little accountability for
torture and killings - crimes in which the Bahrain Defence Force
is implicated."
Posner said charges against those accused of offences
related to political expression should be dropped and peaceful
protests allowed to go ahead.
He urged all sides to remain peaceful, criticising recent
violence by some opposition demonstrators.
"We condemn the violent street actions that have escalated
in recent months and that have included attacks on police with
Molotov cocktails, metal projectiles and other instruments of
harm." he said. "Such violence undermines public safety and
further divides society."
Fourteen opposition figures convicted of leading the
protests are in jail, some serving life sentences.
Opposition parties, which this week launched a week-long
sit-in to put pressure on the government, have said their
protests will not stop until the ruling Al Khalifa family ends
its monopoly on power and the 14 are released.
Activists say more than 60 people have died in the past
year's violence, including some in recent months from tear gas
inhalation or police cars chasing youths during clashes. The
government disputes the causes of death.
The opposition, led by Shi'ite Islamist party Wefaq, wants
the elected parliament to have the power to form governments,
but the government has so far only agreed to allow parliament
more powers of scrutiny over ministers and budgets.
The government has said the island's majority Shi'ite
Muslims coordinated the protests with Iran for sectarian
reasons, an accusation the opposition has denied.
(Reporting by Andrew Hammond; Writing by Isabel Coles; Editing
by Tim Pearce and Andrew Heavens)
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