The United Arab Emirates (UAE), in response to Bahrain's request, has decided to dispatch troops to the country to take part in a mission of maintaining order and security, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The UAE's decision "represents a lively embodiment of its commitment to brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," the state news agency WAM quoted Anwar Mohammed Gergash, minister of state for foreign affairs, as saying in a statement.

"It also evidently expresses that the regional security and stability at this time requires us all to unite our ranks to protect achievements, keep sectarian strife away, as well as to lay foundations for the future," he said.

Gergash also noted that the UAE follows with concern the developments in Bahrain, in particular the national dialogue initiative launched by Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain 's crown prince.

"The UAE calls on all the Bahraini people to respond positively and without prior conditions to this invitation to contribute to the reduction of tension, end the current crisis and find suitable solutions that would preserve the achievements of the brotherly Bahraini people," he said.

On Sunday, Bahraini police clashed with a number of Shi'ite protestors in one of the most violent confrontations since troops killed seven protestors last month.

Protestors continued Monday their demand for the resignation of the entire cabinet, blocking the main roads to the Financial Harbor business complex in the Bahraini capital of Manama.

Also, hundreds of protestors continued to hold a sit-in at Pearl Square in Manama, the focal point of demonstrations that started on Feb. 14.

According to Al-Arabiya TV, security troops of the GCC, a regional bloc that consists of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman, would protect strategic facilities, such as oil, electricity and water installations along with financial and banking facilities.