Relief follows peaceful Grand Prix

The Bahrain Grand Prix went ahead yesterday 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, 25 miles away from where the race 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.

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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.

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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”.

Mercedes and McLaren team bosses Ross Brawn and Martin Whitmarsh criticised British politicians for what they believed was a belated stance on the race.

Mr Brawn said: “I find it very frustrating that politicians in the UK were saying we should withdraw once we got here. Why didn’t they say anything beforehand?”

He went on: “For somebody to try and make Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton determine the foreign policy of the country is wrong.”

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David Cameron resisted pressure to call for the cancellation of the event, insisting it was a matter for the F1 authorities.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said he did not think the race should be cancelled.

He said: “I hope both sides show restraint. I deeply regret that someone appears to have been killed, obviously everybody is imploring them to keep down the level of violence, but I don’t think the cancellation of the grand prix actually would make a very great deal of difference and I don’t think it’s a matter for politicians in Britain to decide whether to or not. Essentially in the end it’s up to Formula One and the people who the run the sport and the teams.”

But Labour’s Peter Hain said he thought the “wrong judgment” had been made.

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The shadow secretary of state for Wales commented: “I’m a Formula One fan myself, I strongly support the sport, but I think they made the wrong judgment in holding this race as a fixed part of the calendar at this time, when human rights abuses are very serious.”

Petrol bombs were hurled at security officials, tyres set ablaze and anti-grand prix graffiti daubed on walls in ugly scenes in the Gulf kingdom in recent days.

Riot police have used rounds of tear gas and pepper spray to disperse throngs of protesters demanding democracy and wanting the race to be cancelled.

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.

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He said: “I am sorry about what has been reported. I am not sure all that has been reported corresponds to the reality of what is happening in this country.”

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman al-Khalifa had claimed that cancelling the race would “empower extremists”.