Bahrain Information affairs minister Samira Rajab has called for "tough new laws to combat the misuse of social media", the pro-government newspaper Gulf Daily News has reported on Wednesday.

Rajab says these new measures are necessary to guarantee the safety of the state and its 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," she said on the sidelines of the opening of the Regional Security Conference.

The Information affairs ministers said social networking sites have been used by "so-called human rights activists" to "distort" the image of the Gulf nation. "This cannot be tolerated. The rule of law shall prevail," she added.

This announcement comes as Bahraini authorities have extended on Wednesday the imprisonment of human rights activist Nabeel Rajab to May 19, who was arrested a week ago and given a 7-day jail sentence for criticizing the Bahraini regime on the public messaging site Twitter.

The tweet said: "Khalifa: Leave the al-Muharraq alleyways, their sheikhs and their elderly, everyone knows that you have no popularity there; and if it was not for their need for money they would not have come out to welcome you. When will you bow out?"

Rajab faces a sentence of two years in jail or a fine of up to BD200 (US$530), Amnesty international said.

Photo via @angryarabiya