Bahrain Mirror (Reuters): The United States is "alarmed" by Bahrian's decision to revoke the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the country's Shi'ite Muslim majority, a spokesman said on Monday.

"We are alarmed by today's decision to revoke the citizenship of Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. "We are unaware of any credible evidence to support this action."

Bahrain is a U.S. Gulf ally and hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.