A new Arab portal has been launched to help Internet users across the region stay safe.

The www.amanak.org portal was launched on the sidelines of the third annual Egyptian cyber peace initiative, which was held in Cairo last week, under the patronage of the Egyptian First Lady Suzanne Mubarak.

Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Internet safety adviser Nick Truman was present at the meeting, along with other officials from around the region.

As well as offering tips and advice on how to stay safe on the Net, the new website will also showcase what neighbouring countries are doing to protect their young and old from the risks of online threats.

It comes as an independent report into the safety of Internet users in Bahrain, commissioned by the TRA earlier this year, is finalised.

Truman said Egypt had followed Bahrain's lead in asking its Internet service providers to sign a memorandum of understanding for them to work together on ensuring the protection of young using the Internet.

TRA Information and communication technology director Ahmed Al Doseri said the meeting clearly demonstrated a closer unity between those countries represented on addressing issues relating to the safety of Internet users.-TradeArabia News Service