Kuwaiti MPs call for stricter net censorship

Kuwaiti lawmakers have called on the government to increase its censorship of the internet in the Gulf state, just a week after the communications ministry ordered local internet service providers to block YouTube.

MP Waleed Al-Tabtabai told Arabic Al-Watan daily the ministry should censor certain websites that are blasphemous and publish pornography.

Al-Tabtabai also praised the ministry's move to ban the video-sharing website, Al-Watan reported on Monday.

The communications ministry last week ordered YouTube to be blocked over clips that could offend Muslims.

"Since the website displays the Koran in the form of songs sung with the oud [stringed instrument]... and displays disrespectful pictures of the Prophet Mohammad... please proceed with immediate effect in blocking the website www.youtube.com," read a copy of a memo obtained by newswire Reuters.