U.S. calls for restraint in Bahrain after massive clashes

The U.S. State Department on Friday called for restraint from all parties in Bahrain after thousands of Shiite opposition members clashed with the Gulf country's security forces. The statement, made by State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, came after Ali al-Daihi, father of the main opposition group al-Wefaq's deputy secretary-general Hussein al-Daihi, died on Thursday reportedly from the wounds inflicted by police, triggering Friday's massive clashes. "Obviously, our condolences go out to Mr. al-Daihi's family and to his loved ones," Nuland said at a regular briefing. "We understand that in connection with the circumstances of the father 's death, the family has now filed a criminal complaint with the Bahraini police." "It is a fragile time in Bahrain, as all sides wait for the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry report, so we're obviously urging restraint on all sides, but particularly transparency with regard to the investigation of this case," she said. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, was hit by a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year and is still witnessing sporadic protests. Al-Wefaq, the main opposition group, blamed the security authorities for their aggressive approach to rein in the increasing street protests.