Kuwait City: A Kuwaiti court has ordered two newspapers to stop printing for a second time in less than two months over articles about a secret probe into allegations of a coup plot to overthrow the Gulf monarchy`s government.
The announcement comes as former opposition lawmaker Musallam al-Barrack planned an anti-government rally tonight. An opposition group led by al-Barrack has promised to launch a series of street protests to press for reform in the Gulf state.
Al Watan reported online yesterday that a judge ordered its print edition and that of Alam Al Yawm newspaper to stop publishing for five days because they had violated a prosecutor-ordered media blackout over the investigation.
In April, the two newspapers received a two-week suspension from publishing from a court for the same reason.
The Kuwaiti prosecutor`s office has ordered that a probe into the videotape be held in secret and called for a media blackout of the investigation.
The tape purportedly contains allegations of a plot to topple the ruling system led by the emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.
Public Prosecutor Dherar al-Asousi has said the media blackout is necessary to preserve the public interest.
Kuwait prides itself on having the Gulf`s most free-wheeling political system and a vibrant press, but denouncing the Western-backed emir is illegal.
