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US lawmakers urge Bahrain to allow UN torture envoy

Agence France-PresseJune 10, 2013 18:30

Twenty US lawmakers urged the king of Bahrain on Monday to immediately allow the UN envoy on torture to enter the kingdom, after the government postponed his trip at the last minute. The Gulf state had advised United Nations Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez on April 22, after renewed clashes between security forces and pro-democracy activists, that they were halting his trip, essentially a second cancellation after a previous planned visit was also scrapped.

Bahraini protesters clash with police over raid on cleric's home

Thomson ReutersMay 24, 2013 16:43

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of Bahraini Shi'ite Muslims angered by a raid last week on a top cleric's home clashed with police on Friday, while thousands more gathered in the cleric's village for a peaceful sit-in against their Sunni-led government. The raid by security forces on the home of Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Qassim on May 17 infuriated the opposition and drew condemnation from neighboring Shi'ite power Iran.

Thousands in Bahrain protest against 'torture'

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 23:55

Thousands of partisans of Bahrain's opposition demonstrated near Manama on Friday to protest against the alleged torture of jailed regime opponents, witnesses said. Gathered around the Shiite village of Daih, men and women waved Bahrain's national flag and held up signs that read: "Manama, capital of torture," the witnesses said. "Torture is a practice rooted in the security agencies," in Bahrain, the main Shiite opposition bloc Al-Wefaq said in a statement.

U.N. expert says Bahrain cancelled visit on torture investigation

Thomson ReutersApril 25, 2013 06:00

By Yara Bayoumy DUBAI (Reuters) - The U.N. torture investigator said Bahrain had effectively cancelled a trip he had planned to the Gulf Arab state, where unrest led by majority Shi'ites against the Sunni ruling family has simmered for over two years. Juan Mendez, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, said in a statement it was the second time a scheduled visit had been postponed at short notice. His trip had been set for May 8-15.

Bahrain snub irks UN rights envoy

Agence France-PresseApril 24, 2013 11:04

The UN's envoy on torture voiced his "deep disappointment" Wednesday after Bahrain, rocked by renewed clashes between security forces and pro-democracy activists, postponed his planned visit. "This is the second time that my visit has been postponed, at very short notice," United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez said in a statement. "It is effectively a cancellation as no alternative dates were proposed nor is there a future road map to discuss," he said.

Bahrain F1 ends without disruption despite protests

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 10:45

Police clashed with Shiite demonstrators on Sunday only hours ahead of Bahrain's Formula One, but a massive security presence prevented any disruption to the race itself as Sebastian Vettel took the chequered flag. The Grand Prix was overshadowed by sometimes bloody clashes away from the circuit which dragged Formula One bosses into controversy for a second year in a row.

Bahrain stages F1 race amid protests, heavy security

Thomson ReutersApril 21, 2013 10:30

By Alexander Dziadosz MANAMA (Reuters) - Protesters blocked several roads and police fired teargas at a school in Bahrain on Sunday, activists said, as the Gulf state staged a Formula One race promoted by the government as pure sport but seen by the opposition as a public relations stunt. Scores of police cars and a couple of armoured vehicles stood along the highway from the capital Manama to the race circuit, where the Grand Prix, won by Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, took place without incident.

Police clash with protesters ahead of Bahrain F1 race

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 07:46

Bahraini police clashed on Sunday with Shiite demonstrators, only hours ahead of the Gulf state's Formula One Grand Prix race, which the authorities insisted would go ahead without disruption. Nico Rosberg of Mercedes will start on pole after outpacing fellow German and championship leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull in qualifying on Saturday. Spain's Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is third on the grid. But the racing has been overshadowed by sometimes bloody clashes away from the circuit which have dragged Formula One bosses into controversy for a second year in a row.

Police clash with protesters ahead of Bahrain F1 race

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 04:30

Clashes ahead of Bahrain Formula One race

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 03:30

Bahraini protesters blocked roads and clashed with police at dawn on Sunday, only hours ahead of the Gulf state's Formula One Grand Prix, but the authorities said the race would go ahead without incident. Masked youths demonstrating against the staging of the race set alight tyres on roads in villages populated by Shiite Muslims just outside Manama, according to witnesses. But access was still open to the Sakhir circuit, south of the Bahraini capital.