The main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq, said on Saturday that a Bahraini man was found dead after clashes with riot police in the village of Shakhoura, a day before Formula One Grand Prix race.

Wefaq named the dead demonstrator as Salah Abbas Habib, 37, and said his body was found on the roof of a building. It said Habib was part of a group who were beaten by police during clashes late on Friday night.

Witnesses told AFP news agency that security forces fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse dozens of people who gathered at the area where Habib's body was found.