Bahrain Grand Prix fails to drown out angry protests
Tough security enables controversial race to go ahead in Manama, but opponents claim moral victory.
Bahraini protestors claimed a moral victory against the government in their campaign to focus attention on tensions and repression in the Gulf state, despite failing to disrupt the controversial Formula One grand prix which went ahead on Sunday under a blanket of security. Burning tyres sent clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the sky as the showcase event got under way following overnight clashes in the Shia villages near the capital city, Manama, where police fired teargas and rubber bullets at demonstrators. Troops, armoured vehicles and sniffer dogs deployed around the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir kept protesters at bay and the race passed without incident, with a win for the reigning F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. Video footage posted online showed a woman being detained at the circuit. Nearby villages were described as being under "undeclared curfew". Witnesses said police broke up any sign of flash protests and fired teargas if there were no cameras present. Opposition activists ended the day on a defiant note, exploiting social media to publicise their cause and relishing the brief but intense international interest in Bahrain that was generated by the F1 row.
Stephen Lendman: Grand Prix Disgrace + Protesting for Justice in Bahrain