Bahrain last night suspended Al Wasat newspaper for publishing "unethical and unprofessional" reports. The Information Affairs Authority also referred the newspaper to concerned authorities for an inquiry.

A programme on Bahrain TV last night detailed a report listing the "unprofessional and unethical practices" committed by Al Wasat, which were characterised by "lies, defamation and plagiarism",  said a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

The newspaper also published, with malicious intent, news and photographs on recent security developments, which were unauthentic, fabricated and misleading, directly targeting Bahrain's security and stability, according to the TV report.

The report also revealed compelling evidence that these news stories and photographs were published between March 25 and 28.

This represents a crime punishable by laws governing Press and publications in Bahrain, according to the report.

The TV programme also said the newspaper used old news published in Arab and local newspapers as well as on websites and online forums.

It then changed names of people in the stories with fictitious ones, according to the report.

The Central Informatics Organisation sent a letter to the Information Affairs Authority in this regard after checking names mentioned in the newspaper reports and found them to be fictitious, the Bahrain TV programme added.