FIA president Jean Todt and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone have rejected a last-ditch plea for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix to be cancelled. Whilst Ecclestone this week expressed empathy with protesters, and even agreed to again hold talks with opposition leaders as he did last year, Todt has been notable by his absence.

At least six leading opposition activists have been detained in the continuing crackdown on protesters in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, reports say.