WASHINGTON: United States President Barack Obama Tuesday urged Bahrain’s rulers to hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses during a crackdown on pro-democracy protests and called for a compromise between the government and the opposition.
Obama, in a White House meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, voiced support for moves toward a national dialogue and insisted the stability of the Gulf kingdom “depends upon respect for human rights,” the White House said.

The meeting came after King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, whose Sunni Muslim family rules over the majority Shiite population, offered on May 31 to open a dialogue on reform and lifted a state of emergency on June 1.
Critics have said the U.S. and other Western nations reacted too softly to the crackdown in Bahrain, which is seen as a vital U.S. ally facing Iran.

A White House statement said Obama welcomed the Bahraini king’s decision to end martial law and the announcement of a national dialogue on reform in July.
“The opposition and the government must compromise to forge a just future for all Bahrainis,” Obama said.
“The president emphasized the importance of following through on the government’s commitment to ensuring that those responsible for human rights abuses will be held accountable,” the White House added.
The crown prince used his Washington visit to repeat his support for reform.