JOIN US"I think it's fair to say from everything we are seeing that the situation in Bahrain is alarming. We are in touch with the highest levels of the Bahraini government today, as we have been for a period of time," Clinton told the NBC in an interview.
"Our message is consistent and strong: There is no way to resolve the concerns of the Bahraini people through the use of excessive force or security crackdowns. There have to be political negotiations that lead to a political resolution," she said.
The United States has urged all the parties, including the Gulf countries, to pursue a political resolution.
"That is what we are pushing, along with others who are concerned by what they see happening," she said.
"We would remind the Bahraini government of their obligation to protect medical facilities and to facilitate the treatment of those who might be injured in any of the demonstrations and to exercise the greatest restraint. Get to the negotiating table and resolve the differences in Bahrain peacefully, politically," Clinton said.
Noting that US considers Bahrain a partner, Clinton, however, said that the Obama administration thinks that Bahrain is on the wrong track.
"We think that the wrong track is going to really affect adversely the ability of the Bahraini Government to bring about the political reform that everyone says is needed," she said.
"We're alarmed by the situation in Bahrain, and we have spoken very forcefully against the security crackdown, in fact, at the highest levels of the government.
And with the Gulf countries, we've made it very clear that there cannot be a security answer to what are legitimate political questions," she said in another interview to the National Public Radio.
"The sooner that the government of Bahrain and the opposition, which has resisted negotiations as well, get back to the negotiating table, the more likely that this matter can be resolved. There has been absolutely no doubt about where the United States has stood on this. And we have communicated that in every way possible," she said.
Deploring the use of force against demonstrators, Clinton told the BBC that the US wants a peaceful resolution.
"We also would remind the Bahraini Government to protect medical facilities and to facilitate treatment of the injured, and we have called on our friends in the Gulf – four of whom are assisting the Bahrain security efforts – to force through a political solution, not a security standoff," she said.
In another interview to the CBS news, Clinton said that the Government of Bahrain is on wrong track.
"There is no security answer to this. And the sooner they get back to the negotiating table and start trying to answer the legitimate needs of the people, the sooner there can be a resolution that will be in the best interest of everyone," she said.
"(Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates gave a very strong message to the Bahraini Government when he was there, and not only urging restraint but pointing out all of the problems if they were to pursue any other alternative," she said.
"So we have been very clear about that, and we are going to continue to stress what we think is in the best interests not only of Bahrain and the people of Bahrain, but of the entire region.
This kind of use of force against peaceful demonstrators, a refusal on all sides – because we want to make sure that no one is using force, whether they are in the security forces or in the demonstrators, everyone needs to resolve their differences in a peaceful manner and to look for a political solution. There is no long-term alternative other than that," Clinton said.