Bahrain Leans on Grand Prix Race to Restore Image
Bahrain was the first Middle Eastern country to host a Formula One race, and it came as a heavy blow to the ruling Sunni monarchy's pride when their deadly crackdown on a massive Shia-based uprising last year prompted Formula One to (reluctantly) cancel the race. This year, the goverment is bent on holding the Grand Prix and says ticket sales are racing along. But activists, who are lobbying again for the race's cancelation, say the authorities' reform efforts are empty gestures, and they have promised to disrupt the race. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports from Manama.