19th/ 20th April 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Bahrains crown prince says now is not the time for him to take part in dialogue in country
Bahrains crown prince says there will be a time and a place for him to participate in the slow-moving political dialogue in the divided Gulf nation but not yet. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa spoke Saturday as he toured the Bahrain International Circuit on the eve of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The crown prince says he is hopeful about the talks between the government and opposition forces in the divided Gulf nation but admitted the slow pace has been a concern. I wish they were going faster, the crown prince said. But Im hopeful. They are happening. That is the important thing. All sides get a chance to air their grievances and that is very key. Read More Grand Prix this weekend that he had received assurances from the Sao Paulo mayor about plans to upgrade facilities at the Interlagos circuit. "I've just received a letter from him. He has now guaranteed that he will revamp the whole facilities there, which is good. We've been waiting long enough. If Sao Paulo do what they say they are going to do, we don't need to move," he added. Read More villages, prompting latenight clashes with police, but away from the Sakhir racing circuit south of Manama where Sunday's Grand Prix race will be staged, witnesses said. "Your race is a crime," chanted protesters armed with petrol bombs and stones. "No, no to blood Formula." Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Read More

Bahrain prince admits 'issues' on Grand Prix eve

Bahrain's crown prince admitted Saturday that there were "issues" affecting the kingdom on the eve of a Formula One Grand Prix that has been dogged by sometimes bloody clashes between police and democracy activists.

But Prince Salman, who has long been regarded as a moderate voice within the Gulf state's Sunni minority regime, said he was "optimistic" a settlement could be reached with the Shiite-led opposition. "I'm optimistic that a solution will be found here," the prince told reporters at the desert Sakhir circuit, south of the capital Manama, as qualication for Sunday's race passed off without incident. Read More

F1 supremo Ecclestone moots Bahrain rescheduling

Formula One's commercial ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone on Friday suggested that the Bahrain Grand Prix could be rescheduled as the seasonopening race but Brazil would remain subject to track upgrades. Ecclestone told reporters in Manama for the Bahrain

Security clampdown ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix

Activists called for a new attempt to march on the Bahraini capital's former Pearl Square protest hub on Saturday amid tight security for the F1 Grand Prix and after an overnight attack on police injured two people. Hundreds took to the streets in several Shiite

Protesters rally in Bahrain streets before Grand Prix

Thousands of opposition protesters took to the streets of Bahrain on Friday to push their demands for political change two days before a Formula One car race that puts the kingdom in the global spotlight.

The atmosphere was mostly peaceful as groups of men, women and children carrying Bahraini ags walked down a highway towards the rallying point. But a handful of youths in Duraz village temporarily blocked a highway with burning tyres, sending black smoke into the air. Read More

Bahrain crown prince expresses hope on reconciliation talks

Bahrain's crown prince, a driving force behind reconciliation talks between government and opposition, said on Saturday he was hopeful that the dialogue could resolve a two-yearold political crisis.

Crown Prince Salman alKhalifa, who rarely speaks to reporters, said of the talks: "They're happening that's the important thing. And all sides get a chance to air their grievances, and that's very key." The tiny but strategically vital Gulf Arab kingdom, a close U.S. ally, has been hit by street violence and demonstrations since prodemocracy protests broke out in February 2011. Read More

Bahrain eyes return to season-opening slot

Bahrain could return to a season-opening slot on the Formula One calendar, with a test at the Sakhir circuit preceding it, if local ofcials can convince commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani told reporters that

his personal preference was for the controversial race to be the rst of the year rather than third or fourth. "It's a good start to the season, it gives us the chance to have the teams here longer, there is more anticipation, more unknowns, how the cars will react to the new tires, the regulations, the drivers are just back into their rhythm," he explained. Read More Some in the crowd carried banners with the slogan: "Don't race on our blood."

Youths, police skirmish in Bahrain before Grand Prix

Opposition youths skirmished with police after 10,000 Bahrainis rallied peacefully for democracy on Friday, two days before a Formula One car race that puts the Gulf Arab kingdom in the global spotlight.

An authorized rally attended by men, women and children west of the capital Manama was orderly but as it broke up, just a few hundred yards (meters) away, dozens of young men skirmishes with security forces ring tear gas. The youths, many wearing black and white masks, burned boxes, a rubbish bin and tires in the road. The tear gas sent the young men scattering. Read More One group called for a 'Day of Rage' on Friday after violence last night in which police red tear gas and stun grenades at protesters. Organisers say the race is a force for good in the country and it should go ahead. Dan Roan reports from Bahrain. Read More unrest and this year's race is taking place amid widespread protests.

Bahrain protest rally draws thousands ahead of F1 Grand Prix

Tens of thousands of antigovernment protesters blocked a major road in Bahrain ahead of Sunday's F1 Grand Prix in the Gulf kingdom.

The rally along Budaiya Highway followed a night of heavy clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Activists have demanded that F1 bosses cancel the race due to Bahrain's poor human rights record. Read More Sunday's race is taking place amid a week of protests organised by opponents to the ruling royal family. Some MPs and protest groups have called for it to be cancelled. The government here are stupid to put this race on. It is a platform for people to use protesting Read More

Bahrain clashes continue ahead of F1 Grand Prix on Sunday

There have been antigovernment protests in Bahrain ahead of this weekend's F1 Grand Prix.

Bernie Ecclestone calls Bahrain government "stupid"

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes the Bahrain government are "stupid" to host a Grand Prix, because of the opportunity it gives to political protestors.

Bahrain Crown Prince Salman addresses civil rights

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman has addressed political and civil rights in the Gulf nation, on the eve of the Sunday's Formula One Grand Prix. Bahrain has experienced more than two years of

Tens of thousands of antigovernment demonstrators blocked a highway on Friday, calling for democracy. Clashes took place late into the night. Activists have called for a further march on Saturday. Read More unhindered by the unrest, reports said. Al Jazeera's special correspondent, reporting from Manama, said around 10,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, even as police ofcials intensied a crackdown on protests in the city and surrounding villages. Read More

Clashes intensify in Bahrain over Grand Prix

Thousands of opposition protesters in Bahrain have clashed with police as Formula One Grand Prix practice sessions passed

Formula One's return to Bahrain meets mixed response

Formula One has returned to Bahrain amid conicting views about the sport's place in a country where political tensions are running high.

The head of the sport's governing body the FIA, Jean Todt, insists the sport coming to Bahrain can be a force for good. But that view is not shared by anti-government protesters, who recently staged a drum march in the village outside Bahrain's capital Manama to urge F1 not to come under the current circumstances. Read More The racing legends intervention comes as a crew for ITN was forced to leave the country by authorities after they reported on violent antiGovernment clashes taking place in the build-up to the Grand Prix. Thousands of protesters turned out for demonstrations near the capital of Manama yesterday. Read More

Editorial: Repression is a shameful background to Bahrains Grand Prix

If Charles Dickens showed us the best of times and the worst of times in A Tale of Two Cities, this weekends tale of two sporting events has something to say albeit on a smaller canvas about the best and worst of human society. At home, we have the uplifting spectacle of the

33rd London Marathon. Undaunted by the horric attack at its Bostonian counterpart, some 36,000 runners and more than a million spectators will descend on the capital tomorrow. Something north of 500m will be raised for charity as participants from all over the world and of every athletic ability or lack of it come together for a glorious celebration of shared effort and shared humanity. Read More

Bahrains F1 protest? Its just like the Old Firm derby, says Jackie Stewart
Three-time Formula One champion Sir Jackie Stewart has come out in support of Bahrains ruling regime, claiming it has started a move towards democracy ahead of tomorrows Grand Prix in the troubled Gulf nation.

Bahrain protests grow as Bernie Ecclestone considers city for F1 start

Bernie Ecclestone is considering launching next year's Formula Oneseason in Bahrain. As tension built here on Friday, with an estimated 10,000 prodemocracy demonstrators gathering at Budaiya Highway in the afternoon

and more serious trouble expected overnight, Ecclestone's stance could be seen as provocative. Hosting nations pay a special premium for the extra status of holding the opening race and if the move does go ahead teams are likely to spend a further week testing in the Gulf state. Read More

opportunities it presented to pro-democracy protesters.

Bernie Ecclestone strikes again with 'stupid' remark in Bahrain

Bernie Ecclestone has a habit for maladroitness that has become more noticeable as each of his 82 years has passed. But he sounded alarm bells here when he seemingly called the Bahrain government "stupid" for staging a grand prix because of the

It was another race and another gaffe for Formula One's supremo, who once said Adolf Hitler got things done and who on Friday had suggested everything was OK in Bahrain but that, no, he wouldn't be staging a race in Syria. The 82-yearold was again due to meet with opposition leaders for talks later. Read More an attempt to embarrass authorities. Some set up makeshift road blocks in the form of re. The chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, Zayed R Alzayani, said Sunday's Grand Prix will go ahead safely Read More

ITV News crew forced to leave Bahrain ahead of grand prix

Rageh Omaar's ITV News team has been forced to leave Bahrain ahead of this weekend's controversial Formula One race following a dispute with the authorities. Omaar, the former BBC foreign correspondent who joined ITV in February, and an ITV News cameraman

and producer left the country on Friday morning after being detained by the police. The Somalia-born reporter, who became a household name during the 2003 invasion of Iraq while reporting from Baghdad, and his team were in the Gulf state on ofcial visas to cover news including potential political protest surrounding the race. Read More

Bahrain protests ahead of F1 grand prix - video

Anti-government groups step up their protests against the Bahrain F1 grand prix on Thursday, in

We're heading in the right direction, says Bahrain Crown Prince ahead of grand prix
The Crown Prince of Bahrain met members of the Formula One family arriving for Sundays controversial grand prix and claimed that 90 per cent of the country see the nancial benets of the race. Despite daily anti-regime protests by Shia activists in

several villages, the Sakhir circuit 20 miles outside the capital Manama was a picture of calm only interrupted by midafternoon thunder and lightning. While touring the paddock, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said: Nobody is saying we are perfect. But things are going well compared to last year. We are in a much better situation Im happy.' Read More The demands of racing in the 3.3-mile desert circuit are like none other on the calendar, with the ambient temperatures expected to rise up to 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and the track temperature reaching 45 degrees Celsius or more. This means that tire temperatures also rise, making tire management once again a crucial factor at this race. Read More

cant keep a good used-car salesman down, he said.

The race in Bahrain benefits all of the people, insists F1 supremo Ecclestone
The intricacies of Bahraini politics provided the prelude to Sunday's grand prix, but on the top oor of his paddock ofce a relaxed Bernie Ecclestone lent forward in his black armchair and smiled. You

Ecclestone, aged 82 and still more inclined to deliver a quip than a treatise on Middle Eastern philosophy, had just nished a meeting with Crown Prince Salman and now sat down for a wide-ranging interview about the state of his sport. Read More

Coming to Grips With a Desert Grand Prix's Many Challenges

The fourth race of the Formula One season takes place Sunday at the 5.4kilometer Bahrain International Circuit, in the desert about 30 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Manama.

Bahrain protesters battle police a day before Formula One race

Bahraini protesters clashed with police Saturday, a day ahead of a Formula One race that the island kingdoms opposition hopes will draw attention to its campaign for democracy. Young men blocked roads, burned tires and threw rocks at security forces who red tear gas in several

villages around the capital, Manama, on Saturday afternoon and evening after similar clashes on Friday, human rights activists and witnesses said. Such skirmishes have occurred almost nightly in Bahrain for the past two years, and the opposition has called for more protests in the run-up to the Grand Prix, which many in the Shiite-majority country accuse the Sunni-led government of using to disguise political dysfunction and human rights abuses. Read More

reason why the race should not go ahead.

authorized rally broke up west of Manama.

Bahrain Grand Prix 2013: F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone stays calm despite violent protests ahead of race
In his sprawling rst-oor ofce above the Sakhir paddock, as several thousand pro-democracy protesters lined the Budoiya highway in nearby Manama, Formula Ones 82-year-old generalissimo perceived not the slightest

I havent seen any of the people here wanting to go to Syria or Saudi Arabia, Ecclestone said with a shrug. There are lots of places they could go Iran, if they wanted. But they seem happy to stay. The demonstrations against King Hamads regime mounted substantially yesterday, both in the capital Manama and in the troubled kingdoms outlying Shia villages. Read More

Protests and clashes as Bahrain prepares for Grand Prix

Chanting protesters reportedly clashed with police Friday in Bahrain even as race cars began looping the tracks before the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. Reuters reported that dozens of young men skirmished with police ring tear gas as an

Miles away at the races, which went on unaffected, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone brushed off reports of trouble. "You guys are the ones who write about the rubbish," he told reporters, according to the Associated Press. "Have you found any?" Read More

Bahrain intensifies crackdown ahead of F1 race

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across Bahrain to protest Sundays Formula One Grand Prix amid one of the worst government crackdowns on dissidents to hit the tiny

island since the start of an uprising more than two years ago. Riot police red tear gas, birdshot and stun grenades at demonstrators throughout Friday and into Saturday morning in over 20 villages, injuring at least 10 people, some critically. Read More Bahrain race was cancelled), the imminent arrival of hi-tech racing cars, celebrity drivers, harassed team crews (and doubtless several crates of soon-to-be-wasted Mot) on the tiny island state of Bahrain has now become an annual occasion for examining the country's human rights record. That record, like the famous Formula One nishing ag, is ... well, extremely chequered. Read More protests to be held Friday. Pro-democracy groups have demanded the race be canceled over the kingdom's poor human rights record and slow pace of reform. Bahrain's crown prince, Prince Salman bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, has admitted his country is "not perfect" but insists progress is being made, and that "we are in a much better position than last year." He urged Bahrainis not to politicize the race. Read More

it is a platform for people to use for protesting.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Bahrain government is 'stupid' to race

In ill-judged remarks, as pro-democracy demonstrations continued in the capital Manama, the Formula One chief said: We believe the government were in a way really stupid to put this race on, because

With further unrest yesterday in Bahrains outlying Shia villages, away from the Sakhir circuit, Ecclestone hardly endeared himself either to the demonstrators or to the ruling regime paying 26 million a year for the privilege of staging Sunday afternoon's race. Read More Shiite villages around the capital, Manama. Young protesters through stones and Molotov cocktails as police responded with tear gas. Called by the Al Wefaq opposition organization, today's march took place along the Budaiya highway, which runs through several Shiite villages. Police dispersed some youth in the village of Duraz, where they temporarily blocked the highway and set re to some tires, Reuters reported. Read More

Bahrain's Black Flag Grand Prix

"Bahrain is on re, but race goes ahead", said one news headline this week. Yes, it's that time again. It's April, the birds are singing, the trees are in bloom and ... it's time for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Like last year and the year before that (when the

Bahrain: 10,000 Shiites rally ahead of F1 Grand Prix

At least 10,000 people including women and children rallied peacefully in Bahrain ahead of Sunday's Formula 1 Grand Prix and against the ruling Sunni alKhalifa dynasty's repression of the country's Shiite majority, the BBC reported Friday. The march followed on last night's clashes in several

Violence and protest flare ahead of Bahrains Grand Prix

Heavy clashes have continued across Bahrain between anti-government protesters and security forces ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix set for Sunday. Bahrain's main opposition society alWefaq has called for major

Protests in Bahrain continue just 20 miles from F1 track

The Bahrain race will go ahead Sunday despite an ongoing political crisis in the divided Gulf nation that saw thousands of prodemocracy protesters clash with riot police Friday

afternoon west of the capital Manama some demanding the race be cancelled due to alleged rights abuses in the country. Rights groups, meanwhile, have condemned the race going ahead amid allegations of crackdowns and widespread arrest of government opponents. Read More

Foreign journalists deported as Bahrain engulfed by pre-F1 protests

Two Bahraini antigovernment protesters were injured on Saturday following clashes with police, who used teargas and rubber bullets. Three foreign journalists were deported from the country as F1 is to kick off.

Clashes in Bahrain have continued overnight with two people injured in an attack on police, AFP reports, adding practice sessions for Sunday's Formula 1 race at the Sakhir circuit in the south were unaffected by the unrest. Protests and clashes broke out in nearly 20 villages on Friday evening and night, according to Sayed Yousif al-Muhafda from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Read More most prominent voice in the Bahraini Spring.

most prominent voice in the Bahraini Spring.

'Cartoonish form of despotism' - Assange on Bahrain activist Rajab's imprisonment

If Bahrain really wants to improve its human rights record, then it should free Nabeel Rajab, says Julian Assange. In an interview with RT, the WikiLeaks founder called Rajab the

Anti-government protests have been breaking in Bahrain since February 2011, resulting in dozens arrested and over 80 people killed. The protests have again intensied ahead of the Formula 1 racing event, resulting in violent clashes, arrests, and police using teargas on demonstrators including schoolchildren. Read More opposition, journalist Afshin Rattansi told RT.

'Cartoonish form of despotism' - Assange on Bahrain activist Rajab's imprisonment

If Bahrain really wants to improve its human rights record, then it should free Nabeel Rajab, says Julian Assange. In an interview with RT, the WikiLeaks founder called Rajab the

Anti-government protests have been breaking in Bahrain since February 2011, resulting in dozens arrested and over 80 people killed. The protests have again intensied ahead of the Formula 1 racing event, resulting in violent clashes, arrests, and police using teargas on demonstrators including schoolchildren. Read More The atmosphere was mostly peaceful as groups of men, women and children carrying Bahraini ags walked down a highway towards the rallying point. But a handful of youths in Duraz village temporarily blocked a highway with burning tyres, sending black smoke into the air. Read More

US-British foreign policy is never about human rights, Bahrain no exception

British and US interest in the world, and particularly in the Middle East, is mainly over the control of resources, which is why it is impossible to imagine them supporting the Bahrain

The London-based writer expects the Formula One weekend in the kingdom to be very hot. RT: We've been here before: the anti-Formula 1 clashes in 2011, which killed dozens of people, and nally the cancellation of the race. Read More

One motorsport series, with some of the demonstrations disbanded by security forces and others tolerated.

Protesters rally in Bahrain streets before Grand Prix

Thousands of opposition protesters took to the streets of Bahrain on Friday to push their demands for political change two days before a Formula One car race that puts the kingdom in the global spotlight.

Bahrain protests intensify on Formula One weekend

Opposition protesters in Bahrain have taken to the streets amid the arrival of the Formula One race series. The protests are more muted than last year, but the government has again expelled foreign journalists. Anti-government protests again ared in Bahrain with the return of the Formula

Protests centered around the capital Manama and the surrounding villages, with one major demonstration marching on the former Pearl Square after Friday prayers. The city-center square was razed by authorities in 2011 as part of efforts to quash an uprising led mostly by members of the country's Shiite community. Read More

police red tear gas and used stun grenades as violence intensied over the past week leading up to the race, the BBC reported.

Bahrain chief slams Grand Prix 'terrorists'

Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani has described those protesting against this weekend's Grand Prix as "terrorists". The February 14 Youth Coalition, an underground movement, have embarked

on a week-long campaign entitled 'volcanic ames', as part of their condemnation of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Videos appeared of protesters blocking main roads with tyres before setting re to them, sending drivers the ordinary public scattering to safety. It is incidents such as those that anger Alzayani. Read More Prince Salman bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa was recently appointed deputy prime minister by his father, King Hamad, with the aim of resolving the long ongoing dispute between the ruling Sunni family and the majority Shia population. It is a battle that resulted in violent anti-government protests in 2011 when many were killed, and the withdrawal from the F1 calendar of that year's race. Read More

Protests coincide with Bahrain's Grand Prix

Opposition groups called for a day of rage Friday to coincide with practice runs for the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain, ofcials said. Protesters blocked roads using burning tires and

Major opposition group alWefaq called for a large protest Friday, but insisted it does not want the race to be canceled, just for its concerns to be heard on a larger scale, Sky News reported. Read More

Thousands of protesters demonstrate against Bahrain Grand Prix

Police red canisters into the peaceful rally for democracy attended by men, women and children in the country's capital.

The country has grappled with unrest since prodemocracy demonstrations broke out in February 2011, inspired by Arab Spring revolts that year. Protester Mohamed alSughayer, 61, said: "The regime is trying to say everything is stable in Bahrain, but stability cannot come through aggression." Read More The ve-strong team, who had the necessary visas to work, were lming 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 on Friday they must leave the country or face being taken to prison. Read More

Bahrain Crown Prince admits faults as protests to grand prix continue

The Crown Prince of Bahrain conceded his country is "not perfect" in a week when protesters have again taken to the streets to condemn the staging of this weekend's grand prix.

British TV crew forced to leave Bahrain

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 in the tiny Gulf kingdom, the broadcaster says.

Protests on fast track in Bahrain

As Sundays Formula One race draws host Bahrain into the international spotlight, pro-democracy protesters hope to rubbish the governments message that normalcy has returned to the Kingdom after two years of sporadic clashes. There have been heavy clashes over the past week

that could peak just ahead of the Grand Prix. A round of demonstrations began on April 11 after the Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, the main bloc, called for weeklong protests, under the slogan democracy is our right. Three days later, hundreds took to the streets to stage peaceful protests, though violence was not far away. Read More

Heavy clashes continue in Bahrain ahead of F1 Grand Prix

Heavy clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces have continued into the night in Bahrain, ahead of Sunday April 20 F1 Grand Prix, BBC News reported.

Demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres, and police red tear gas and stun grenades, as violence over the past week intensied. The main opposition society al-Wefaq has called for a big protest on Friday. Other activists have demanded that F1 bosses cancel the race due to Bahrain's poor human rights record. Read More track there will be a feeling of dj vu amongst the paddock as they roll into the sand-surrounded city of Sakhir. Yet again the Bahrain Grand Prix is at risk of being overshadowed by political unrest in the tiny gulf nation, as the Shia Muslim majority ght for reform and democracy in a country which has been run by the al-Khalifa royal family for over 200 years. Read More

Bahrain: Rage against the F1 machine

PRO-DEMOCRACY activists in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain are staging a second day of protests on Friday as part of a Day of Rage ahead of Sundays Bahrain Grand Prix. International media have reported that thousands from the Shiite Muslim

majority demonstrated againt the repressive regime of the Sunni royal family on Thursday night in several areas across Bahrain, burning tyres and blocking roads. Many have been chanting: No Formula on Bahrains occupied land . . . No blood Formula, in a reference to the Formula One motor racing spectacular. Police have retaliated by ring tear gas and stun grenades. Read More

Bahrain battles its own desert storm

It's been just a few days since Fernando Alonso claimed Ferrari's rst win of the season in Shanghai, but already the teams and drivers have arrived at the Bahrain International Circuit to prepare for the fourth instalment of the 2013 season this weekend. Although the on-track action is barely predictable, off the