Bahrain Court Bars U.S. Observer from Activist's Trial

The United States was Tuesday seeking an explanation from Bahraini authorities after a US embassy observer was expelled from the trial of a prominent rights activist.

A representative of the U.S. embassy was asked to leave Monday's court hearing for Shiite activist Nabeel Rajab, a State Department official confirmed.

"We are seeking additional clarification from the Bahraini government as to why she was not allowed to observe the proceedings," deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.

"We believe that an essential element of promoting national reconciliation is ensuring the confidence of all Bahrain's citizens and our government's commitment to due process and the rule of law."

The U.S. has already expressed concern that the Bahraini court refused to free Rajab even though he was eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of a two-year sentence.

Rajab was arrested in the wake of the Sunni monarchy's crackdown on a month of Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding political reforms and jailed for taking part in "unauthorized" protests.

His sentence was later reduced on appeal to two years from an initial three and according lawyers and right groups he had been eligible for early release late last month.