U.S., Saudis Support Bahrain Dialogue

Antigovernment protesters gathered in downtown Manama, the Bahraini capital, on February 20.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister have agreed to support a proposed dialogue between the Bahraini government and its opponents.

The State Department said Clinton discussed the unrest in Bahrain in a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

The crown prince ordered troops and armored vehicles to withdraw from a square in central Manama where protesters had gathered.

Unrest in the Gulf Arab country follows protests that toppled U.S.-allied governments in Tunisia and Egypt.

compiled from agency reports