Bahraini authorities claimed to have blocked a number of websites and blogs by mistake.

The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) claimed a technical error resulted in blocking of several sites, but said in a statement it was fixing the problem.

'The increasing number of blogs and websites indicates freedom of expression in the country,' it said.

Among those affected was Bahraini blogger Amira Al Hussaini, who is Global Voices Online regional editor for the Middle East and North Africa and former news editor of our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN).

She said her site www.sillybahrainigirl.blogspot.com was blocked on Tuesday after being incorrectly categorised as pornographic, but she was told during a meeting at the IAA yesterday that it would soon be accessible.

'I have not posted anything objectionable that violates any law of the land,' Al Hussaini told GDN.

'The concerned official at the meeting was courteous and informed me that it was a technical error that resulted in blocking my blog.

'He also assured that I did not violate any law.'

Her blog was still blocked yesterday evening.-TradeArabia News Service