Bahrain is set to introduce tough new laws to combat the misuse of social media, said a senior government official, adding that the action is necessary to guarantee the safety of the state and residents.

"The unrest in Bahrain last year was fuelled by the irresponsible use of such media and everything was blown out of proportion to suit some people's agenda," Minister of State for Information Affairs Samira Rajab said on the sidelines of the opening of the Arabian Gulf Security: Regional Facts and International Interests Conference.

Rajab said if countries like the US, the UK and France could have such laws, Bahrain was entitled to have its own legislation.

"How can Bahrain not do this? We have a right to punish those who indulge in seditious behaviour and create disunity among the people," she said.

"We have to think of how to protect our national security. We have these new threats and we have to see how we can tackle those threats."

Experts from across the globe are attending the conference, which concludes at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa today, to debate security in the Gulf.

It has been organised by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic and International Studies and Energy in co-operation with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security (RUSI).

Rajab earlier told delegates social media had been and continues to be abused by the so-called human rights activists.

"It is these activists who have labelled drowning victims as those killed by torture," she said.

"They have labelled sickle cell victims as being killed by security forces and they have used these media to completely distort the true picture of Bahrain. This cannot be tolerated. The rule of law shall prevail," she added. – TradeArabia News Service