Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, a former Foreign Office Minister, has today criticised remarks attacking the Bahraini pro-democracy opposition by former Scotland Yard chief, John Yates, who is now working for the ruling dynasty in Bahrain. Yates described the protests as "just vandalism, rioting in the streets." Yates made his attack in an interview in the Daily Telegraph today.

MacShane was the first MP to raise Bahrain and the pro-democracy movement there a year ago when he asked an Urgent Question in the Commons.

The MP says that Yates remarks are "shocking" and will damage Britain's international reputation. He has written to Foreign Secretary, William Hague and Home Secretary, Teresa May, asking if the government approved Yates' appointment to work for the Bahraini government and urging that Yates be recalled to Britain to be told that his language condemning the Bahraini protest movement is unacceptable.

"Imagine if a British police chief was in Damascus criticising the protest movement in Syria. William Hague would react very strongly. But there is a complete double standard when it comes to Bahrain," MacShane added.

In his letter MacShane said he was very concerned about reports that the Bahraini police were using a new tactic of throwing canisters of CS or tear gas into small houses. Amnesty report that up to 30 people may have been killed as a result. "Tear gas is used for crowd dispersal. To throw tear gas into homes with doors and windows closed is an act of terror aimed at intimidating and repressing opponents of the regime," MacShane added.