Armoured vehicles have been deployed around the capital of Bahrain, Manama, and on the road to the nearby motor racing circuit, amid continuing anti-government protests ahead of tomorrow's Formula One Grand Prix. Eyewitnesses say police, who had petrol bombs thrown at them during demonstrations yesterday, responded with tear gas. There are growing calls for the race to be cancelled.

Fahad al-Binali, Bahraini Information Authority Affairs spokesman, told Today presenter John Humphrys that the Bahraini authorities respect groups like Amnesty International which have criticised its human rights record.

"But what we also respect, or understand of human rights advocacy is, while any reasonable person has a duty to condemn violations of human rights, on the other hand... they also have a duty to acknowledge positive action and we don't see enough of that."

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