![\"f1crash3\"](\"http:\/\/www.crookedbough.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/f1crash3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nBahrain opposition calls F1 Grand Prix protests<\/strong> DUBAI: Bahrain’s influential Shiite opposition bloc Al-Wefaq and a more radical group have called separate rallies for Friday to protest the weekend staging of the Formula One Grand Prix in Manama.<\/p>\n Demonstrations have been held during the annual three-day Grand Prix event every year since 2011 by opponents of the ruling Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty in an attempt to highlight pro-reform demands.<\/p>\n The protests, which first erupted in the wake of a Shiite-led uprising in February 2011, have at times been marred by violence but the race has never been affected.<\/p>\n They are mainly staged in Shiite villages surrounding Manama and away from the Sakhir F1 circuit in the capital’s south.<\/p>\n The Bahrain Grand Prix practice sessions begin on Friday ahead of Sunday’s race.<\/p>\n Al-Wefaq in a Tuesday statement urged its supporters to hold a rally on the main Budaya highway, four kilometres (2.5 miles) west of Manama, which links several Shiite villages.<\/p>\n Al-Wefaq’s peaceful rallies are usually tolerated by the authorities and rarely end with clashes.<\/p>\n But protests by supporters of radical cyber-group the February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition are more violent and often end with clashes between police and demonstrators armed with petrol bombs.<\/p>\n The February 14 group, accused by authorities of links to Shiite-majority Iran, called on its Facebook page for demonstrations Friday in the Al-Seef Junction area, west of Manama, under the slogan: “Stop the blood formula.”<\/p>\n Protests in Shiite villages surrounding Manama began earlier this week, with witnesses reporting masked demonstrators staging rallies chanting: “No, no to Formula 1” and “Down Hamad,” in reference to the king.<\/p>\n The rallies have been broken up by police firing tear gas and sound grenades, with protesters hurling petrol bombs and throwing stones, according to witnesses.<\/p>\n Public security chief General Tariq Hasan said Tuesday the authorities have taken “all measures and plans” to secure the April 4-6 Formula One event.<\/p>\n Police will deploy around the Sakhir circuit and along main roads leading to it, the official BNA news agency quoted Hasan as saying.<\/p>\n Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bahrain’s hosting of the event, the race will this year take place at night.<\/p>\n Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, remains deeply divided three years after the Shiite-led uprising was quashed, with persistent protests sparking clashes with police, scores of Shiites jailed on “terror” charges and reconciliation talks deadlocked.<\/p>\n The International Federation for Human Rights says at least 89 people have been killed in Bahrain since the uprising began in February 2011. …source<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAFP – 1 April, 2014 – Times of India<\/p>\n