Radical group demands Bahrain GP cancelled

A radical group in Bahrain are vowing to do everything in their power to ensure this year's grand prix does not go ahead. The Coalition Youth of the 14 Feb Revolution have called on F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to call off the race on April 22 as they claim the situation in the Gulf kingdom has "not eased but exacerbated". The Coalition have been described by one local source as "one of the most active in terms of organising protests, a big driving force who represent a wide number of fed up young Bahrainis". At present Ecclestone has insisted the race will take place, even though there are reports of daily clashes between protesters and police. In particular last Friday tens of thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets in a pro-democracy protest, described as the biggest since last February's 'Day of Rage' that was the catalyst behind the cancellation of last year's race. On Thursday police were forced to use tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades as they attempted to quell youths throwing petrol bombs in a number of villages on the outskirts of Manama. Despite the ongoing violence, F1 shows no sign of backing down unless the unrest again leads to the loss of life, as was the case a year ago. The letter from the Coalition to Ecclestone is dated February 28, but passed on to Press Association Sport on Friday. It reads: "Mr Ecclestone, we are very disappointed at your recent statement confirming the organisation of the F1 race in Bahrain, notwithstanding the prevalent political unrest, insecurity, widespread violations of the most basic human rights and the atrocious crimes perpetrated every day against the people of Bahrain. "Those reasons were the same that led you to call off the race last year, a situation that has not eased but exacerbated. Your statement has done much wrong to the F1 race and given a bad impression the F1 races are all about money and greed. "Organising an F1 race in Bahrain at a time when children are being killed in the streets at the hands of the regime mercenaries will haunt the F1 reputation forever and will imprint it with the image of death and human rights violations. . "We demand you reverse your decision and call off the F1 race in Bahrain, else wise we will have no choice but to do everything in our capacity to ensure the failure of the race rather than see it stained with blood and shame."