AP journalists prevented from entering Bahrain

Two Associated Press journalists are being prevented from covering the Bahrain Grand Prix because they have not received visas to enter the Gulf kingdom.

The two writers, based in Dubai, were expected to cover practice and qualifying along with Sunday's race. They were granted accreditation to cover the race by the sport's governing body, the Paris-based International Automobile Federation. But they have been told by Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority that their visa applications to enter the kingdom are still "pending."

Other Gulf-based journalists working for international news organizations also had not received visas in time to cover Thursday's practice. The race is the fourth stop on the 20-race Formula One calendar.