Those committing criminal acts will be held fully accountable, Bahrain's Interior Ministry Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said last night.

He pledged tough measures against the spate of crime gripping the kingdom.

In an address on Bahrain TV, he appealed to citizens and expatriates to observe calm and self-restraint and be prudent.

He also urged co-operation with security forces to assume their duties in maintaining security and stability and protecting national hard-won achievements and vital interests.

He paid tribute to security forces for dealing with the security situation with maximum self-restraint, risking their lives to ensure other people's safety.

He pointed out the dangerous escalation and the acts of vandalism gripping Manama and various other parts of Bahrain.

He deplored acts being orchestrating to sow chaos by blocking roads and disrupting people's interests.

He condemned criminal acts, citing particularly arson fires, sabotage of public and private properties and attacks targeting citizens, expatriate communities and security forces.

'The spate of criminal acts gripping Bahrain is not sparing even mosques and government institutions,' he said.

He described them as alien to Bahrain society.

These criminal acts, he said, have sparked fears and panic among citizens, who are mobilising to set up checkpoints to deter saboteurs and protect their houses and properties.

He revealed massive losses in vital sectors, particularly education and health, a dangerous escalation which is now threatening national unity.

He also highlighted the damage inflicted upon key pillars of the national economy, especially investments, tourism and productive sectors.

'Anyone keen on others' lives and interests and belonging to their country can't perpetrate these sordid acts which are wreaking havoc in the country, endangering people's safety and sabotaging their property,' he said.

He said that the situation had taken a dangerous turn with innocent people being threatened, kidnapped, tortured and humiliated in public.

'These go against religious precepts, human principles, including human rights covenants', he said.

He vowed that the perpetrators of these sordid deeds would not get away with it.-TradeArabia News Service