Bahrain race goes ahead amid unrest

The Bahrain Grand Prix has gone ahead without disruption despite continuing unrest and protests in the Gulf island.

Violent disturbances have been intensifying in recent days with around 50,000 anti-government protesters gathering around the capital Manama, just 25 miles away from where the controversial race meeting took place.

Opponents have fought pitched battles with security officials, with claims surfacing that protester Salah Habib Abbas, 37, was killed by shotgun pellets fired by riot police on a rooftop during an overnight raid.

The race itself passed peacefully, despite rumours leading opposition party al-Wefaq had purchased tickets and had planned a protest inside the track.

German Sebastian Vettel won the race in front of a half-full main grandstand, with every other stand empty.

Fahad al Binali, spokesman for the Bahrain Information Affairs Authority, told the BBC he was "surprised" some protesters had campaigned against the race, saying it had provided them with "a platform" to a global audience.

Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to the foreign minister of Bahrain to express the Government's "concern" about the violence. He called on the Bahraini authorities for "restraint in dealing with protests including during the Formula One race" and urged "further progress in implementing political reforms".

David Cameron has resisted pressure to call for the cancellation of the event, insisting it was a matter for the F1 authorities. But Labour's Peter Hain said he thought the "wrong judgment" had been made in staging the race at the current time.

After news of Mr Abbas's death on the outskirts of Manama emerged, Jean Todt, president of the F1's governing body the FIA, remained adamant his conscience was clear and the reputation of the sport remained intact.

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman al-Khalifa had claimed that cancelling the race would "empower extremists".
©Press Association 2012
©Sky News