The new "royal" Nepalese information ministry has announced a stricter ban on independent media coverage of the country's Maoist uprising.
Media agencies will be allowed to publish only "approved" news about the rebels that is released from security forces, the BBC reported Wednesday.
The move tightens censorship imposed a month ago after King Gyanendra staged a coup in order to re-establish law and order in the violence-besieged Himalayan kingdom.
Independent reporting on radio has stopped, and military censors have visited newspaper and television offices with warnings not to criticize the royal takeover.
Shortly before the rules were announced, several newspaper editors were scolded for printing a statement by the Maoists' leader last weekend which announced the lifting of the rebels' two-week blockade of the highways. Editors reportedly were warned that their papers might even face closure if they broke the new rules.
The king's takeover was announced Feb. 1, but violence has continued despite the tight controls made by the new government.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
