(22 Apr 2012) On the evening of April 21st 2012 police fired dozens of rounds of tear gas in Bahrain's Diraz village, around ten kilometres (six miles) west of the capital Manama to keep anti-government demonstrators away from a main road.
Demonstrators in the village, a Shiite opposition stronghold, ran to escape the clouds of smoke fired by unseen police in nearby streets.
The Gulf nation is struggling to quell the unrest brought about by the highly-awaited - and controversial - Formula One grand prix, due to be held this weekend.
The protests have left the country's rulers struggling to keep attention on the build-up to the Formula One race - Bahrain''s premier international event.
Authorities in Bahrain opened an investigation on April 21st, after the body of a man was found near the scene of clashes between protesters and the security forces.
A statement by Bahrain''s Interior Ministry said a probe was under way. The death will nonetheless likely intensify the continuing protests against the race.
Opposition groups claimed the man was killed by riot police in another blow to the anti-government movement that has seen at least 50 people die in the unrest since February 2011 - the longest-running street battles of the Arab Spring to date.
In the wake of the claimed protestor's death, opposition activist Sayed Ahmed, an electronics engineer who lost his job after being arrested during demonstrations in 2011, had strong words for the Formula One event.
"To be honest, people of Bahrain thinking that this race is racing on our blood because until last night there was a martyr, a victim of this regime which was shot by bare pellets," he said.
The grand prix was called off in 2011 amid security fears, and Bahrain''s leaders lobbied hard to hold this year''s event, in efforts to portray stability and mend the country''s international image.
Jalil Khalil, leader of opposition party Al-Wefaq said that the opposition parties want to use the spotlight offered by the race to press their demands to the world for a greater political voice.
"We feel here in Bahrain that the media ignored Bahrain. We feel that the international bodies, the UN and the (UN) Security Council ignored Bahrain for double standards. They work and they use everything in Syria and other countries, but they keep silent on Bahrain," he said.
Bahrain''s Shiite majority seeks to break the near monopoly on power by the ruling Sunni dynasty, which has close ties to the West.
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 granted to the Sunni minority.
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.
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On April 22nd a massive security presence on the streets of Bahrain''s capital Manama blunted anti-government protestors'' efforts to disrupt the Formula One Grand Prix.
Security forces in Bahrain set up checkpoints and stationed armoured vehicles in opposition strongholds before the race.
There were isolated clashes between the police and protestors angry with their government for not making democratic reforms, but the events took place well away from the race track, 30km (20 miles) south of Manama.
Protesters claim at least one person was killed by riot police in the run-up to the event.
Burning tyres in waste ground sending plumes of black smoke high in the sky was as about as much as protestors could do to send a message to the F1 organisers.
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