Bahrain's Interior Ministry has warned residents against possessing unlicensed arms and ammunition and said violators can be given up to six months jail term.

The ministry in its statement said those found with unlicensed arms will face up to 15 years in jail and those with unlicensed ammunition up to five years.

Under the law, those who don't renew their licences face up six months in jail.

The ministry called upon those with unlicensed weapons or ammunitions to immediately approach the Licences Office at the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Science and get it licenced.

Meanwhile, the ministry said rioters yesterday clashed with police in several areas of Bahrain, including Samaheej, Burhama, Eker and Jidhafs after an opposition rally.

A police patrol vehicle was gutted in a Molotov cocktail attack in Samaheej, the Interior Ministry said.

A group of thugs also attacked cleaners on a garbage truck in Eker before stealing and burning their two trucks.

The ministry said on its official Twitter account that rioters broke from a group of demonstrators on Budaiya Highway and hurled Molotov cocktails, iron rods and rocks at police. They were taking part in an authorised rally but moved away from its route towards Burhama.

Bahraini policewomen had to earlier intervene and arrest protester Zainab Al Khawajah after she attacked a public employee while on duty, the Capital Governorate police director-general said.

Al Khawajah was arrested and will be referred to the Public Prosecution after disobeying orders not to stand in a restricted area in front of the Interior Ministry's main entrance on Thursday night and assaulting a public employee while on duty, he said.-TradeArabia News Service