Sanitation workers have been put on high alert as radical opposition groups threaten to hold a series of illegal rallies today (August 14), a report said.

Security is expected to be tight across the country in response to calls for anti-government protests as part of the so-called Tamarod (rebellion) movement, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Police earlier warned people not to respond to incitement to take part in demonstrations, which could result in legal action against participants.

Safety

The Gulf City Cleaning Company (GCCC) is taking no chances with the safety of hundreds of cleaners due to the threat of suspicious devices.

"We met all supervisors and have told them that safety of our staff on the ground is our main concern," said company spokesman Hisham Al Haddad.

"If there is a situation where our staff face danger then they have been instructed to immediately inform their supervisors or authorities concerned and withdraw from that particular area."

Two pedestrians were killed and Indian sanitation worker Dhana Ram Sainin, who worked for GCCC, was seriously injured during a series of blasts across Manama last November.


Some of the blasts were caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) left in or near public bins as part of a campaign targeting Bahrain's Asian community.

Al Haddad said rioters had already been blocking roads using palm tree trunks, rubbish bins, cinder blocks and other debris since Monday in the build-up to today's potential flashpoint.

"We have an emergency task force that will respond to requests by the Interior Ministry to clear expected debris and roadblocks in villages today with the help of special equipment," he said.

He revealed the company had put up large pictures of explosive devices to educate sanitation workers on what to look out for.

"We were supplied with about 100 pictures of suspected objects or explosives dealt by the Interior Ministry," said Al Haddad. "These were placed in different labour camps with Arabic, English and Urdu advisories so that our workers are educated about these objects and stay away from them at all times." – TradeArabia News Service