The building of the largest Catholic church in the Gulf was supposed to be a chance for the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain to showcase its traditions of religious tolerance in a conservative Muslim region where churches largely operate under heavy limitations.

Authorities in Bahrain opened an investigation today after the body of a man was found near the scene of clashes between protesters and the security forces.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have flooded a major highway in Bahrain, demanding a halt to this weekend’s Formula One race.

The harsh crackdown on anti-government protests in Bahrain has failed to silence people’s demands for greater rights, a senior Shiite cleric in the Gulf kingdom said today as thousands of opposition supporters rallied on the outskirts of the capital.