Bahrain bans main opposition newspaper

03 April 2011 - 11:06 By Sapa-AP
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Bahraini authorities have banned the country's main opposition newspaper in a widening effort to muzzle anti-government media.

The newspaper Al-Wasat did not publish on Sunday after a message on state TV saying Bahrain's Information Ministry has ordered the paper to shut down. The state-run Bahrain News Agency says officials accuse Al-Wasat of "unethical" coverage of the Shiite-led uprising against the country's Sunni rulers.

Bahrain has sharply tightened Internet and media controls under military rule imposed last month after weeks of protests and clashes by groups seeking to break the monarchy's grip on power in the strategic Gulf nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Al-Wasat's online edition also was blocked.

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