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Fresh Bahrain clashes ahead of Formula 1 race | Fresh Bahrain clashes ahead of Formula 1 race |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Fresh clashes have erupted in Bahrain ahead of this Sunday's F1 race in the Gulf kingdom. | |
Activists have demanded the race be cancelled due to the country's poor human rights record. | Activists have demanded the race be cancelled due to the country's poor human rights record. |
But Formula 1's governing body has defended the race, saying it could have a healing effect. | But Formula 1's governing body has defended the race, saying it could have a healing effect. |
For the past two years members of the Shia majority have been protesting against what they say are human rights abuses by the ruling Sunni minority. | |
A source in the capital Manama told the BBC that security forces were firing tear gas in a bid to stop protesters reaching a major motorway, the Budaiya highway. | |
Protesters are reported to be blocking roads with barricades made of burning tyres. | |
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights said 13 people had been arrested and that clashes were continuing in villages close to the Sakhir track, the site of the F1 race. | |
A centre spokesperson said police were firing tear gas and birdshot against protesters in the towns of Sitra and Diraz. | |
Correspondents say the continuing unrest will be seen as a setback for the interior ministry which is trying to prevent tourists and F1 fans from being affected by the protests. | |
The latest clashes come after days of escalated tensions. | The latest clashes come after days of escalated tensions. |
On Tuesday, police fired tear gas and clashed with students in a raid on a secondary school in the capital, Manama. | |
Officers stormed the Jabreya school for boys after students staged a protest demanding the release of a colleague arrested on Monday, activists say. | Officers stormed the Jabreya school for boys after students staged a protest demanding the release of a colleague arrested on Monday, activists say. |
On Sunday a car bomb blew up in the heart of the financial district in Manama, though without causing injuries. | |
The main opposition society in Bahrain , Al Wefaq, has called for a major protest on Friday, reports the BBC's Bill Law. | The main opposition society in Bahrain , Al Wefaq, has called for a major protest on Friday, reports the BBC's Bill Law. |
Khalil al Marzooq, a senior Al Wefaq leader, said they would not call for protests on the day of the race. | Khalil al Marzooq, a senior Al Wefaq leader, said they would not call for protests on the day of the race. |
Mr Marzooq also urged all protests to be peaceful. | Mr Marzooq also urged all protests to be peaceful. |
"We do not support any violence either from security forces or protesters," he said. | "We do not support any violence either from security forces or protesters," he said. |
While Al Wefaq and other opposition groups repeat their calls for peaceful protest, angry youths are still routinely taking to the streets armed with Molotov cocktails. | While Al Wefaq and other opposition groups repeat their calls for peaceful protest, angry youths are still routinely taking to the streets armed with Molotov cocktails. |
There have been almost daily clashes in Bahrain since security forces used birdshot and tear gas to quash a three-day-old peaceful protest at Manama's Pearl Roundabout on 17 February 2011. | There have been almost daily clashes in Bahrain since security forces used birdshot and tear gas to quash a three-day-old peaceful protest at Manama's Pearl Roundabout on 17 February 2011. |
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