Bahrain suspends Al Wasat newspaper over 'lies'

Bahrain has suspended the kingdom’s main opposition newspaper after accusing it of publishing false and unethical reports, the Gulf island’s state news agency said Sunday.

“The paper has adhered to lies, falsification and plagiarism as its guiding principles for the sake of deceiving its readers through publishing fabricated stories and photos,” BNA said.

“It directly and deliberately poses a real threat to the kingdom's security and stability.”

Bahrain has seen protests since mid-February, when thousands in the Shiite-majority country took to the streets demanding political reform.

At least 24 people have been killed in a month of protests, Bahrain's Interior Minister Rashed bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa said Tuesday.

Bahrain declared martial law on March 15 after troops from Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrived to help quell protests that have gripped the Gulf state for more than a month.

The army on March 19 demolished the 300ft monument on the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, which had become a focal point for protesters.

Earlier this month, Bahrain's Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa said his country would emerge stronger from the uprisings.

He said the kingdom would "overcome the current circumstance" thanks to the wise leadership of King Hamad as well as the "resolve and patriotism of the Bahraini people."