Bahrainis bury man killed in F1-related protests

An 18-year-old man was buried on Sunday in Bahrain, after he died from injuries sustained in April during protests against the Formula 1 race in the small Gulf kingdom, dpa reported.

The Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix was held on April 22 despite continuing anti-government protests demanding the race to be cancelled.

Several thousands attended the funeral for Ahmed al-Dafiri, in the Riffa cemetery, south of the capital Manama. The funeral service proceeded amid calls by pro-government supporters to take tougher action against protesters.

Al-Dafiri died last week in a hospital in Jordan from a head injury and second and third degree burns he sustained a month and half earlier.

He was reportedly injured in a blast as he attempted to take his car away from burning tyres, which protesters threw to rally against the F1 race.

Officials told local media that a stroke resulting from the head injury led to his death.

Opposition supporters on Sunday also buried Mariam Nasser, in her 80s, in Saddad village, north-west of Manama, after she reportedly died over the weekend as a result of health complications she developed when tear gas was fired into her home as police battled protesters.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain saw a series of protests demanding political reform and greater freedoms in February 2011 before authorities embarked upon a crackdown against the Shiite-led demonstrators.