CLAIMS that the US assured jailed opposition activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja that it supported opposition protests last year have been denied by American Ambassador Thomas Krajeski.

In February 2011, Mr Al Khawaja gave a speech to thousands of protesters at the former GCC (Pearl) Roundabout in which he said Washington assured him that the political opposition would have a greater say in Bahrain.

"What Al Khawaja said, Al Khawaja said," Mr Krajeski told the GDN.

"No-one in the United States government gave him any reason to support that kind of statement.

"At no time did the US take a side and this is a situational issue that must be solved by Bahrainis."

In the speech, Mr Al Khawaja claimed he had direct talks with Americans about overthrowing Bahrain's governing regime.