Bahrain examines BICI report

Bahrain's monarchy announced it issued a royal decree convening a panel to carry out the recommendations of an independent human rights panel. A 500-page report detailing the kingdom's response to a Shiite uprising early this year concluded the country's security forces used "excessive and unnecessary lethal force." At least 40 people died during the uprising and the commission found at least nine deaths were attributable to the country's Interior Ministry. Bahrain was criticized for its response to the uprising and for calling on security assistance from members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The United Nations had said it believed the country was torturing people in state hospitals amid the crackdown. The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported the Sunni-led monarchy called on a national commission to examine the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, the country's deputy prime minister, said during the weekend the national commission would work to implement "all BICI recommendations." Authorities in Manama said 20 members of the state's security forces were charged for the "mistreatment of detainees." Bahrain transferred the cases of several doctors and nurses to a civilian court after they were convicted by a military court of spreading "stories and lies" and for trying to topple the regime. A state of emergency was lifted in June though dozens of arrests have since been made across the country.