FORMULE ONE: Bahrain Grand Prix: Protesters rally as Formula One teams race in Gulf kingdom

MANAMA, BAHRAIN—Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters on Friday flooded a major highway in Bahrain demanding a halt to the Formula One race on its first day of practice runs, as the Gulf kingdom’s crown prince vowed the country’s premier prestige sporting event would go ahead.
Bahraini authorities stepped up security around the Formula One circuit after clashes between protesters and security forces intensified ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix race.
Last year, a wave of anti-government protests by the island’s Shiite majority and a violent crackdown by the Sunni rulers forced organizers to cancel the 2011 Bahrain GP. At least 50 people have been killed since the start of Bahrain’s uprising, inspired by other Arab Spring revolts, and violence continues to roil the island.
Friday’s massive rally was organized by Shiite political blocs, including the main groups Al Wefaq and Al Waad. Protesters shouted slogans against the ruling Sunni dynasty, that is the main backer of the F1 race. The crown prince owns rights to the event.
“We demand democracy” and “Down, Down Hamad,” opposition supporters chanted in reference to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as they massed on the main highway leading out of the capital, Manama, about 20 kilometres north of the Formula One track.
The rally was given a permit by the government. But riot police fired stun grenades and tear gas at a group of about hundred protesters who broke away from the rally and headed to Pearl Square, the now heavily guarded roundabout in the capital that had served as opposition’s hub during the first weeks of last year’s uprising.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Bahrain’s most senior Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, condemned the Sunni rulers for staging the F1 race despite opposition protests. In a strongly worded sermon during Friday prayers, the cleric said the rulers have cracked down on dissent aggressively ahead of the event “as if we are entering a war.”
The grand prix race is Bahrain’s premier international event, part of the tiny island kingdom’s attempts to boost its prestige in recent years. The 2012 race is going ahead despite appeals by rights groups for another cancellation and pressure from protesters, including a jailed activist on a more than a two-month-long hunger strike. There have also been allegations of widespread human rights abuses in the tiny, but strategic island that is the home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Shiites account for about 70 per cent of Bahrain’s population of just over half a million people, but claim they face widespread discrimination and lack opportunities that the Sunni minority has. The country’s leaders have offered some reforms, but the opposition says they fall short of Shiite demands for a greater voice in the country’s affairs and an elected government.
Clashes between protesters and security forces have taken place almost every day for months. The unrest has intensified in the lead-up to the F1 race, including riot police clashing with opposition supporters in the predominantly Shiite villages that ring Manama.
Al Wefaq leaders said at least 50 people have been injured in the past two days when security forces fired pellets to disperse protesters on several occasions.
Additional security forces deployed this week, setting up checkpoints Friday on roads leading to the Bahrain International Circuit and increasing their presence across Manama.
The rulers have depicted the race — expected to draw a worldwide TV audience of about 100 million in 187 countries — as an event that will put the divided society on the path of reconciliation.
During a visit to the circuit on Friday, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa told reporters the F1 race should go ahead Sunday.
“I genuinely believe this race is a force for good, it unites many people from many different religious backgrounds, sects and ethnicities,” Salman said.
On the track, teams were practicing Friday ahead of Saturday’s qualification race.
In the past weeks, much of the protesters’ anger has been directed at the crown prince, who is also the commander of the kingdom’s armed forces, which the opposition supporters say have been enforcing the crackdown.
Last year, Salman was tasked to lead a national dialogue aimed at reconciliation between Shiite and Sunnis. The talks broke down without any compromise and have not yet resumed.
In Iraq, hard-line Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, denounced Bahrain for staging the grand prix while “blood is being shed” on the island. Al-Sadr also condemned the F1 teams for racing, saying their presence in Bahrain gives “support for injustices and the killings.”
As a majority Shiite country, Iraq has backed Bahrain’s Shiite-led protests.

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El patrón de la Fórmula 1 dijo no entender por qué el equipo Force India se retiró de los entrenamientos, acusando falta de seguridad.

Jefe de la Fórmula 1: "No puedo cancelar el Gran Premio de Bahrein"

Bernie Ecclestone dijo no entender por qué el equipo Force India se retiró de los entrenamientos, acusando falta de seguridad Bahrein. El año pasado la cita debió suspenderse por las revueltas en el país.

20/04/2012 - 10:29

El patrón de la Fórmula 1, el británico Bernie Ecclestone, declaró en el circuito de Sakhir, Bahrein, que no entiende los temores del equipo Force India, que renunció a competir en la tercera sesión libre de Gran Premio de ese país por motivos de seguridad, y aseguró que no puede suspender la cuarta cita del Mundial de Fórmula 1.

"No puedo cancelar esta carrera. Aquí estamos; tenemos un acuerdo para estar aquí y aquí estamos. Las autoridades deportivas nacionales en esta país pueden pedir a la FIA la suspensión si quieren", dijo a la prensa en el paddock de Sakhir.
Ecclestone agregó que no entiende por qué Force India está tan preocupado por la seguridad, y que él mismo se ha ofrecido a viajar personalmente con el equipo a su salida del circuito de Sakhir "si lo que quieren es más seguridad".
"Se les ha dicho que pueden disponer de seguridad si lo desean. No sé si alguien los tiene como objetivo. No lo sé. Espero que no porque de lo contrario el resto de equipo también tendría un problema. Puede que hayan recibido un mensaje y sean un objetivo por algún motivo. Puede que no tenga nada que ver con este país, sino por algún otro motivo", afirmó el británico.
El equipo Force India decidió no tomar parte en la segunda sesión libre al considerar que no está plenamente garantizada la seguridad de su personal.
El equipo tomó esta decisión para que sus miembros puedan regresar pronto al hotel en el que están alojados. Force India emitió un comunicado en el que explica que son "motivos logísticos" los que le han obligado a no salir a la tercera tanda.
El miércoles, la escudería informó de que uno de los vehículos en los que se desplazaba parte del personal se encontró con una manifestación y que incluso cayó muy cerca de ellos una bomba molotov.
El temor a que vuelva a suceder algo similar hizo que los responsables de Force India renuncie a la segunda sesión de pruebas libres para poder abandonar pronto las instalaciones del circuito de Sakhir.
Force India sí tiene previsto competir el sábado tanto en la tercera sesión libre como en la de clasificación, así como en la carrera del domingo.
El Gran Premio de Bahrein tuvo que cancelarse en 2011 por las revueltas que vivió este país, y este año también estuvo en duda. Aún hay grupos que se oponen a la disputa de la prueba y se producen manifestaciones en este sentido.