Heavy clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces have continued into the night in Bahrain, ahead of Sunday April 20 F1 Grand Prix, BBC News reported.

Demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres, and police fired tear gas and stun grenades, as violence over the past week intensified. The main opposition society al-Wefaq has called for a big protest on Friday.

Other activists have demanded that F1 bosses cancel the race due to Bahrain's poor human rights record.

In a joint statement, motorsport's world governing body and Formula One management said the race should go ahead as planned.

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Formula One Management (FOM) said they "also strongly believe sport can often be a force for good and that the staging of the Grand Prix in Bahrain will come some way in helping soothe some of the issues which have been raised in the media".

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights says 13 people have been arrested and that clashes were continuing in villages close to the Sakhir track, the site of the race, south of the capital, Manama.