Bahraini king forms a panel to implement the recommendations

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has decided to form a panel to implement the recommendations of a probe which found police used “excessive force” against demonstrators, state news agency BNA said on Sunday. “The National Commission will examine the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and make its own recommendations,” the agency said, adding the panel could propose amendments to Bahraini legislation. It would “expedite its work and complete it within a framework of transparency before the end of February 2012,” BNA said. “However, the government will endeavor to implement those recommendations that can be implemented without delay, rather than waiting for the recommendations of the National Commission.” Gulf civil society groups have urged Manama to apply the recommendations of the independent probe unveiled on Wednesday that found police guilty of torturing activists in a crackdown on democracy protests in February-March. King Hamad, who commissioned the report, has vowed reforms following the commission’s findings.