GENEVA, Sept 19: Bahrain said on Wednesday it accepted ‘90 per cent’ of reforms urged by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in the wake of a popular uprising, amid US criticism that the kingdom was dragging its feet.

“The government of Bahrain is pleased to fully accept 145 (out of 176 recommendations) and partially accept 13 more,” Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told the council, adding that “significant challenges remain”.

“We have undertaken unprecedented reforms,” he said, responding to numerous recommendations by the council first made in May and covering notably Bahrain’s criminal justice system, the prevention of torture and the rights of women, children and minorities.

The Bahraini representative also pointed to the creation of a special unit tasked with investigating mistreatment by security services.

But he added: “Some, unfortunately, believe that continued unrest on the streets affords them a political advantage. To keep up the momentum and media coverage, they fuel the flames of extremism and violence.”

Since February 2011, thousands of anti-government protesters have staged regular demonstrations and called for reforms in the Gulf kingdom, which is ruled by the Khalifa family.

The Shia-led opposition’s demands for an elected government involve constitutional changes that will reduce the power of the dynasty.

While the 21st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva saw several countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Yemen applaud Bahrain for its moves so far, the United States was less forthcoming.

“The government needs to be attendant to accountability,” Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, told reporters outside the chamber, adding that progress was “slowing down”.

“We have yet to see a successful prosecution of anyone in connection with some of the torture cases and deaths in custody last year. It’s now a long period,” he said, adding that he planned to meet the Bahraini representative later.

Cases involving doctors and prominent human rights activists “still in detention or pending after the demonstrations need to be resolved”, he added.—AFP