MANAMA: A Bahraini source last night dismissed as totally untrue a report published by Britain’s Financial Times alleging that a Saudi politician had made unofficial direct contacts with Al Wefaq.

The so-called Bahrain “opposition” is trying to spread misinformation but foreign newspapers and media outlets must verify reports before publishing them, the source said.

The Financial Times report claimed that the meeting was part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to encourage a settlement between the government and the opposition after two years of protests.

It claimed that Saudi Arabia, together with the US and UK, is pushing for a political settlement in Bahrain to stem further radicalisation.

The reports said there were concerns that an end-game in Syria leading to the victory of rebels there and defeat for Iran’s allies in Damascus could prompt Tehran to exploit unrest and interfere more directly in Bahrain.