Bahrain lifts ban on pro-opposition newpaper

DUBAI;   Bahrain has given permission to a
pro-opposition newspaper to resume publishing  
after a two day ban that drew criticism from  
human rights groups-state media said..

A statement from the information Affairs Authority
reported by the official BNA news agency
said that the decision had been taken after Al-Wasat
's edition undertook to respect the law on publications.

Announcing the paper's suspension on Thursday
the authorities had accused it of "violation of the
law and repeated dissemination of information
that affects national unity and the kingdom's
relationship with other country.

Bahrain has seen frequent unrest since the Sunni
minority rules of the small Gulf kingdom crushed
a Shitte-ed uprising for reforms four years ago..
At the height of the 2011 uprising .Al-Wasat was
suspended by authorities,and its chief editor.
Mansoor al-Jamri was tried and fined for allegedly
publishing false information ,It was later allowed
to reopen'

The US based Human Rights First watchdog
criticised  the latest move against the newspaper.

"The immediate suspension of Al-Wasat newspaper
in Bahrain is another seriously alarming ,if predictable
,move from the Bahraini government in silencing
all opposition voices and crushing dissent" said
Human Rights First's Brian Dooly.

The watchdog described Al-Wasat as an independent
and widely respected newspaper'.AFP