Media attachés are to be posted to Bahrain embassies around the world to counter false news about the reality of life on the ground since the unrest, said a senior government official.

The Bahrain News Agency (BNA) will also open offices in several countries, Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

One official has already been appointed to Washington and six others will be stationed in key capital cities by the end of the year.

"Bahrain is not a hotspot (for political unrest) and there are a few trying to make it look so," she said during a Press conference at the Information Affairs Authority headquarters in Isa Town.

"People live their lives normally 24 hours a day without any harassment or trouble whether in sports, political, social or other fields. Some have radical political agendas and want things to look worse when in reality they are not up to that level.

"For that we have to come up with a new policy that is capable of stopping media attacks and improving our image in the international community."

Rajab, who is also the official government spokeswoman, said media attaches would help spread a positive image of Bahrain that also reflected the truth.

"BNA will also have offices in selected areas across the world to cover events in the host country and present news agencies with Bahraini news that comes purely from official sources and is not distorted," she said.

"Several agreements have already been signed between BNA and Russia, Spain, Italy, Egypt and India and they are the starting point from which we will branch out."

Meanwhile, Rajab denied claims Bahrain had placed restrictions on local or international media.

"Anyone can come during any time, but when they threaten our national safety and breach local laws then we have to take action," she said.

"We have not taken action against any media establishment or person operating within the law and only a few who deviated from the original purpose of their visit have been affected.

"Unlike other countries we don't tap media establishments or their personal communications or make it difficult to get visas - our legislation and procedures are clear." – TradeArabia News Service