MANAMA: Bahrain police fired tear gas in clashes with rioting youths after thousands of opposition supporters rallied peacefully for democracy yesterday, two days before a Formula One car race that puts the Gulf Arab kingdom in the global spotlight.
An authorised rally attended by men, women and children west of the capital Manama was orderly but as it broke up, dozens of young men skirmished with security forces firing tear gas.
The youth, many wearing black and white masks, burned boxes, a rubbish bin and tyres in the road. The tear gas sent the young men scattering.
Many in the Shia-majority state accuse the Sunni-led government of trying to use tomorrow’s race to paper over human rights abuses and disguise political problems they say still plague the country, a close US ally.
The opposition hopes the spotlight on the kingdom’s biggest sporting event will help its struggle gain wider attention.
Bahrain has grappled with unrest since pro-democracy demonstrations broke out in February 2011, inspired by Arab Spring revolts that swept the region that year. The race was cancelled in 2011 when the protests were crushed. Last year’s race went ahead against a backdrop of burning tyres and riot police firing teargas at protesters throwing petrol bombs in Shia villages.
At yesterday’s protest, many of the protesters held banners reading “I love Bahrain”. Some carried roses or national flags. Posters called for the release of activists from prison. Others carried inflatable tyres reading “No to the bloody Formula”.
A television crew from Britain’s ITV has been forced to leave Bahrain because they reported on violent demonstrations ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix, the broadcaster said. The five-strong team, who had the necessary visas to work, were filming when they were detained on Thursday and were questioned at a police station before being released.
The group was then questioned a second time and taken to a police station, before being told yesterday they must leave the country or face being taken to prison. “Our news team were on assignment with visas approved by the Bahraini authorities,” an ITV News spokeswoman said.
Agencies
