The Foreign Ministry statement issued Monday said US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski is not welcome in Bahrain. It said he intervened in the country's domestic affairs by holding meetings with some groups at the expense of others. It said this segregates the people of Bahrain and runs counter to diplomatic norms.

Malinowski met with Bahrain's Shiite opposition group, al-Wefaq, a day earlier.

Bahrain has been witnessing a popular uprising since February 2011. The protesters are calling for the downfall of the ruling Al Khalifa regime.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the ruling Al Khalifa family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Over the past years, Bahrain’s human rights record has come under scrutiny over its handling of the anti-regime demonstrations across the country.

Amnesty International as well as Human Rights Watch (HRW) has repeatedly urged the Bahraini regime to free protesters and other activists.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the Manama regime’s ongoing crackdown on peaceful demonstration.

RA/NJF