Baharin - Need updates ( Archived) (3)

Bahrain is at a tipping point. By inviting in 1,500 Saudi and Emirati troops to help restore order the ruling al-Khalifa family have dramatically raised the stakes in the tiny Gulf kingdom.

It is a controversial and somewhat desperate measure as Bahrain's own police and security forces have shown themselves patently incapable of handling the anti-government protests to date.

It follows a series of behind-closed-doors conversations between key figures in each of those countries on how to contain the crisis.

This has resulted in what Gulf rulers would like to present as almost an "internal family matter", with one or other fraternal country helping out another. In practice, it is unprecedented and potentially highly inflammatory. So how has it gone down with the various interested parties?