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ITV News crew forced to leave Bahrain ahead of grand prix ITV News crew forced to leave Bahrain ahead of grand prix
(5 months later)
Rageh Omaar's ITV News team has been forced to leave Bahrain ahead of this weekend's controversial Formula One race following a dispute with the authorities.Rageh Omaar's ITV News team has been forced to leave Bahrain ahead of this weekend's controversial Formula One race following a dispute with the authorities.
Omaar, the former BBC foreign correspondent who joined ITV in February, and an ITV News cameraman and producer left the country on Friday morning after being detained by the police.Omaar, the former BBC foreign correspondent who joined ITV in February, and an ITV News cameraman and producer left the country on Friday morning after being detained by the police.
The Somalia-born reporter, who became a household name during the 2003 invasion of Iraq while reporting from Baghdad, and his team were in the Gulf state on official visas to cover news including potential political protest surrounding the race.The Somalia-born reporter, who became a household name during the 2003 invasion of Iraq while reporting from Baghdad, and his team were in the Gulf state on official visas to cover news including potential political protest surrounding the race.
"Our news team were on assignment with visas approved by the Bahraini authorities," said a spokeswoman for ITV News. "Having filed a report last night [Thursday], they were stopped while filming this morning and taken to a local police station for discussions with officers. They have since been asked to leave the country, which they are in the process of doing.""Our news team were on assignment with visas approved by the Bahraini authorities," said a spokeswoman for ITV News. "Having filed a report last night [Thursday], they were stopped while filming this morning and taken to a local police station for discussions with officers. They have since been asked to leave the country, which they are in the process of doing."
It is understood that the team, which included two locals driving and translating who have not been asked to leave the country, was held by local police but not arrested. The police asked that the ITV News team leave Bahrain.It is understood that the team, which included two locals driving and translating who have not been asked to leave the country, was held by local police but not arrested. The police asked that the ITV News team leave Bahrain.
The spokeswoman said ITV will continue to cover the events around Bahrain's grand prix.The spokeswoman said ITV will continue to cover the events around Bahrain's grand prix.
Last year, authorities denied entry to a number of journalists from a number of news organisations including Sky, which holds the UK TV rights to air the grand prix, in an attempt to stifle coverage of potential political unrest.Last year, authorities denied entry to a number of journalists from a number of news organisations including Sky, which holds the UK TV rights to air the grand prix, in an attempt to stifle coverage of potential political unrest.
In 2012, Bahrain's authorities granted permission for journalists who regularly cover Formula One to enter the country, but denied visas to other reporters from news organisations including Sky News, CNN, Reuters and the Financial Times.In 2012, Bahrain's authorities granted permission for journalists who regularly cover Formula One to enter the country, but denied visas to other reporters from news organisations including Sky News, CNN, Reuters and the Financial Times.
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