Authorities in Bahrain, have ordered an independent newspaper to stop publishing online today. Bahrain’s Information Affairs Authority issued an edict barring Al-Wasat from publishing online this evening and said the ban would remain in place until further notice. The ban did not appear to affect the print edition of the paper.
The suspension of Al-Wasat’s online operations followed a spike in anti-government protests led by the country’s Shiite majority that began on Saturday. A city hall was set ablaze during clashes between opposition protesters and police.
The demonstrations accelerated after three men convicted of a deadly bombing targeting police were put to death yesterday. Al-Wasat is widely seen as the only independent newspaper
in Bahrain.