By PAMELA OWEN
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Opposition leaders said the man, named locally as Salah Abbas Habib, was found dead on the roof of a building at a site in Abu Suiba, a district of southern Manama.
It is believed he was arrested along with five other people and died following violent clashes with security forces on Friday night.
A Bahraini protester holds a molotov cocktail bomb next to a barricade on fire during clashes with the police on Friday night
Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa sits in the pits during the third practice session at the Bahrain International Circuit in Manama ahead of the Formula One tomorrow
Force India's Scottish driver Paul di Resta sits in the pits during the practice sessions on Saturday
On Friday the Bahraini government allowed protesters to gather on a main highway in a bid to avoid street battles from breaking out and causing embarrassment for the Gulf State as F1 teams prepared for Sunday's race.
But violence flared as small groups broke away from the main gathering and started to challenge police who responded by using stun grenades and tear gas.
Protesters took refuge in shops about 12 miles north of the Formula One track as drivers prepared for the race.
Last year the 2011 Bahrain GP was cancelled because of anti-government protests during the start of the uprising which has been the longest-running in the Arab Spring.
Protesters want more political representatives for Shi'ites and hope to weaken the Sunni dynasty which has ruled for more than 200 years.
Bahraini protesters clash with police in Maksha village, north of Manama on Friday night
Police reportedly used stun grenades and tear gas to control the protesters who strayed from the main gathering
On Saturday morning dozens of armoured vehicles were deployed along the main highway to the circuit after protesters promised to mark this weekend's race with 'days of rage'.
Security forces were stationed around the capital of Manama and along the road to the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. Activists say barbed wire has been installed near some parts of the main highway.
The protesters, mostly from the majority Shi'ite Muslim community, blame the Sunni ruling elite for shutting them out of opportunities, jobs and housing.
They have made it clear they will use the international attention the motor race has focused on Bahrain to air their grievances.
'The government are using the Formula One race to serve their PR campaign,' said rights activist Nabeel Rajab. 'It's not turning out the way they wanted.'
Organisers have rejected calls from human rights groups to cancel Sunday's race because of what activists see as continuing political repression. The cars took to the track again today for practice and qualifying sessions.
An anti-government protester holds a teargas canister fired by police while the Grand Prix continues nearby
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton smiles while in the pit on Saturday while protesters outside clash with police
McLaren driver Jenson Button, along with Hamilton, were urged by campaigners to boycott Sunday's race
Mark Webber of Australia drives during the final practice session prior to qualifying for the F1 race on Sunday
'They need to fix the country first, then they can start looking at Formula One and other events,' said Umm Hussein, one of 10,000 demonstrators who gathered near the capital, Manama, on Friday.
Police used teargas against masked youths throwing petrol bombs, who were trying to reach a traffic roundabout that was a rallying point during an uprising last year inspired by the Arab Spring revolts that toppled the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt.
Opposition leaders said they are not planning any organised mass rallies on Saturday, but did not rule out gatherings later in the day that might grow in size.
Last year's race was delayed, and then cancelled, after a brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain, a financial hub and modest oil producer that is also host to the Fifth Fleet, the U.S Navy's main outpost in the region.
Security forces from neighbouring Saudi Arabia came in, the streets were cleared and 35 people, including security personnel, died.
Since then, amid simmering unrest, Bahrain has invited in an independent commission to prescribe reforms and has enacted some, but human rights groups say there is still more work to be done. They say the kingdom's rulers are using the motor race to improve their international image.
Fernando Alonso drives during the final practice session on Saturday
Bahraini pro-reform protesters rally during an opposition march in Karanah village, north of Manama
'We are committed to our programme of reforms, but this week's unbalanced coverage does little to help the progress we are already making,' a Bahrain Information Affairs Authority official said in a statement.
While sports journalists poured in to cover the race, non-sports reporters from Reuters and some other news organisations have not been granted visas to visit the Gulf island, which in 2004 became the first country in the region to host Formula One.
Hackers brought down the F1 website intermittently on Friday and defaced another site, f1-racers.net, to support what they described as the Bahraini people's struggle against oppression.
Two of the 12 teams were left rattled after witnessing protesters throwing petrol bombs. Two members of the Force India team went home to Britain although the other team, Sauber, continued with race preparations.
At the Bahrain International Circuit, which has been blanketed by multiple layers of security, there were no incidents during Friday's practice runs.
Bernie Eccleston has described the security fears as 'nonsense'
Armoured vehicles have been placed along the route to the circuit where the F1 race is taking place to stop activists from getting too close to the track
A daughter of Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja makes the victory sign towards riot police
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone described general security fears as 'nonsense'.
Team principals echoed the sentiment, saying they were confident in security measures, which they said were similar to arrangements seen at other Formula One races across the globe.
Of particular concern to security personnel are young Bahraini protesters carrying petrol bombs who clash with police in Shi'ite villages surrounding the capital nearly every night.
Opposition leaders say around 95 protest organisers have been arrested in night raids in the past week and 54 people wounded in clashes, in which police have fired birdshot.
Also of concern is the health of hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, one of 14 men in prison for leading an uprising last year.
Women protesters react after police use a flashbang sound grenade during the rally in Bahrain
Khawaja's family said he stopped drinking water on Friday, after being on hunger strike for more than 70 days. His death would be a major blow to the government, which is trying to make the case that reforms are under way.
His release, however, would also be a loss of face and could energise the opposition. Denmark, where Khawaja also holds citizenship, has offered to take him.
'His situation is very dangerous,' said activist Rajab. 'If he dies that will make people very angry.'
Instrumental in founding found the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Khawaja is one of eight serving life sentences after he expressed support last year for Bahrain becoming a republic.
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