Bahraini police further resorted to the use of tear gas against the demonstrators in the northeastern village of Sitra, east of the capital, Manama.

Regime forces also crushed similar protest rallies in a number of other villages, including Saiba and Daih.

The demonstrations were held hours after thousands of protesters hit the streets in Manama on the eve of the 2014 Formula One Grand Prix auto-racing competition in Bahrain.

Opposition leaders have called on protesters to use the presence of foreign media at the race to have their voice heard by the world.

They say the Formula One governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), should cancel the event in Bahrain over the ongoing crackdown by the US-backed Al Khalifa regime against peaceful protests.

Human rights activists say the Formula One event is used as a political tool by the Manama regime to make the world believe that the situation in the country is normal.

Bahrain has witnessed anti-regime demonstration since February 2011. Scores of people have been killed and many more have been detained since.

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