The Gulf emirate of Bahrain is to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

A foreign ministry statement said the decision reflected the wish of both Bahrain and the Vatican to strengthen their mutual friendship and respect.

Bahrain will send an ambassador to the Vatican and an apostolic nuncio will be posted to the capital, Manama.

The emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, met Pope John Paul last November during a visit to the Vatican and invited him to Manama. Christians are allowed to practise their faith in Bahrain, where there is an overwhelmingly Muslim population of six-hundred-thousand.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service