BRITISH officials dismissed as incorrect yesterday remarks purportedly made to the Arabic Press by a Bahraini MP.

They focused on criticism by political societies and religious leaders of British Ambassador Jamie Bowden's meeting last month with members of the Al Wefaq parliamentary bloc.

"The Press has reported that Dr Abdullatif Al Shaikh has said that members of the Majlis Al Nuwaab, from Al Menbar political society, have never met the British Ambassador. This is incorrect," said an embassy statement released yesterday.

"The Ambassador called upon Dr Salah Ali at his office in the Majlis Al Nuwaab on 14 February 2008 and discussed the full range of bilateral issues. Sami Qambar of Al Menbar political society was also present," the statement said.

"Furthermore, Dr Ali Ahmed, along with members of the Majlis Al Nuwaab from Al Asala, Al Wefaq and Al Mustaqbal blocs, visited the UK Parliament in October 2008, on a programme arranged by the British Embassy and had several discussions with British government officials," the embassy said.