Bahrain beefs up security ahead of anti-government protest anniversary

Bahrain's police on Tuesday beefed up security amid radical groups' calls to stage mass rallies to mark the anniversary of the 2011 anti-government protests in the kingdom. Chief of Public Security Major General Tariq Al Hassan said that the government has strengthened measures to revive the national dialogue with opposition groups, and that any illegal and violent acts that disrupt security and general order will not be tolerated. "Incitement on social media is considered a crime that should be penalized by law. Those responding to such calls will also face penalty," he warned, adding that the police will take "all necessary steps to protect the people's safety and property as well as the interests of the nation." The announcement came hours after radical groups, mainly the Coalition of Feb. 14, issued a statement urging a "Pride Strike" from Wednesday to Saturday, calling for shops and malls to shut down in order to avoid transactions with the government. Bahrain's main opposition group Al Wefaq National Islamic Society earlier this week also announced a series of nationwide " organized activities."