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 A senior State Department official said Kerry, who was in Vienna
for talks between Iran and major powers over curbing Tehran's
nuclear program, spoke by telephone with the Bahraini minister.
Bahrain expelled Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, last week, saying he had
"intervened flagrantly" in the country's internal affairs by holding
the meeting.
Kerry "reiterated our view that the Government of Bahrain’s demand
to have a Foreign Ministry representative present at private
meetings between U.S. diplomats and Bahraini political figures is an
unacceptable requirement that runs contrary to international
diplomatic protocol," the official said.
 The official said Kerry also expressed concern about charges against
al-Wefaq party leader Sheikh Ali Salman and his political assistant,
Khalil al-Marzouq for holding an illegal meeting. The Bahraini
authorities said they should have obtained permission to meet
Malinowski.
The official said Kerry told the Bahraini minister that "our actions
should be consistent with our strong bilateral relationship."
Bahrain is one of Washington's main regional allies and hosts the
headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. But the Gulf state has
bristled at American criticism over its human rights record since
suppressing a popular uprising in 2011.
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The U.S. State Department summoned a senior envoy from Bahrain - the
chargé d'affaires of its embassy in Washington - last Tuesday to
formally protest Malinowski's expulsion.
A court in Bahrain last month cleared Marzouq of terrorism charges.
The island kingdom is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family, but the
majority of its population are Shi'ites, whose political leaders
have demanded democratic reforms.
(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and David Storey; Editing by Eric
Walsh)
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