Hi °C | Lo °C The Bahrain Grand Prix's off-track human rights drama reached a new pitch last night as police fought battles with pro-democracy supporters demonstrating just a few miles away from where Formula One practice laps were taking place.
A peaceful march by tens of thousands of people ended in huge clouds of tear gas as riot squads stopped youths trying to head towards Pearl Square, a key venue for last year's protests that has since been declared off-limits to demonstrators.
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa rejected calls from human rights activists to cancel this weekend's Grand Prix.
He said that calling off tomorrow's race would play into the hands of "extremists".
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Irish Independent
