DUBAI, Feb 13: Bahraini police clashed with protesters on Monday, witnesses said, as the kingdom's security chief warned citizens not to heed calls by activists to mark the first anniversary of uprising.

Police fired tear gas and sound grenades at hundreds of demonstrators in what some described as “violent” clashes in Shia neighbourhoods that lasted throughout the night on Sunday and into Monday morning, the witnesses said.

One witness said that 'many' protesters were wounded but gave no further details.

Protesters often seek medical treatment in private homes for fear of retaliation or arrest by government security forces if they check in to a public hospital.

Meanwhile, public security chief Major General Tariq al-Hassan cautioned Bahrainis “not to respond to the inciting calls on (online) social networks to demonstrate,” in a statement published on the official BNA news agency early Monday.—AFP