U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton on Sunday called for restraint in Bahrain during a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, said a State Department statement.
In discussing regional developments with her Saudi counterpart, Clinton underscored "the necessity of restraint" by the security forces in Bahrain, said the statement.
Clinton said the United States has welcomed steps by Bahraini Crown Prince Selman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to initiate a meaningful dialogue with "the full spectrum" of Bahraini society.
She hoped that "Bahrain's friends in the region and internationally" will support this initiative as a constructive path to "preserve Bahrain's stability and help meet the aspirations of all of Bahrain's people."
In Bahrain, thousands of protesters returned to Manama's Pearl Square on Sunday, the focal point of anti-regime demonstrations, after military vehicles withdrew from the square on Saturday.
Bahrain ordered its military to withdraw on Saturday in response to the opposition group's demands for starting a dialogue to solve the turmoil in the country after several protesters were killed and dozens of others injured in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters.