Bahrain's king announces human rights probe

By the CNN Wire Staff

Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Kuwait City on December 14, 2009.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Bahrain's king says human rights violations will not be tolerated
The new commission will be headed by a U.N. war crimes expert
Bahrain has been embroiled in anti-government protests since February
It hosts U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which supports U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

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(CNN) -- Bahrain's king has set up an independent commission to investigate possible human rights violations during recent government crackdowns on pro-reform protesters, according to the state-run Bahrain News Agency.

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa announced the move in a speech at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting Wednesday, saying such violations would not be tolerated, BNA reported.

At least 30 people have died during crackdowns following street protests held since since February 14, activists say. The Interior Ministry says four policeman have died.

Bahrain is one of several Middle Eastern and North African countries embroiled in anti-government protests. The ruling royal family are Sunnis in a majority-Shiite nation, and many Shiites complain they are discriminated against.

Emergency laws imposed in mid-March and allowing a crackdown on political leaders and journalists were lifted on June 1, but hundreds of suspected pro-reform protesters remain in custody.

Bahrain has come under pressure from international human rights groups over its treatment of those arrested, a number of whom were sentenced last week under special military court proceedings.

Human Rights Watch says at least 100 have been convicted since the trials began.

The king said the new five-member commission, which is expected to report its findings by the end of October, would be headed by law professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, a United Nations war crimes expert.

"Any person, whether acting on behalf of the government or any other capacity should be aware that we have not given up on our principles and would not tolerate any human rights violations," the king told the Cabinet, according to BNA.

"Such acts do not help anyone, but hurt everyone."

King Hamad also issued a royal decree Wednesday ordering that suspected protesters facing military trial be transferred to criminal courts, and opened the door for fresh appeals, BNA reported.

The king previously set up a committee in February to investigate events that led to the deaths of protesters, but no action has yet resulted.

Bahrain is strategically important to the West, being home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet -- a vital instrument for the Pentagon in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Fighter jets from carriers in the fleet provide close air support for American troops in Afghanistan.

CNN's Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report.