Masked protesters in Bahrain douse a row of tires with gas.<br/> <br />And seconds later, the arrangement becomes a flaming barricade.<br/> <br />The blaze came just hours before the eyes of the world will be on the tiny Gulf kingdom, which hosts a Formula One race today.<br/> <br />Protesters have denounced the Grand Prix as a gaudy spectacle by a ruling family that crushed Arab Spring demonstrations last year.<br/> <br />Demonstrators hurling petrol bombs have clashed nightly with police during the past week, and security forces responded with teargas, rubber bullets and birdshot.<br/> <br />Still, the race has drawn more than 100,000 visitors and generated over 500 million U.S. dollars in spending.<br/> <br />Andrew Raven, Reuters
