Iran bans daily critical of Ahmadinejad, says report

Tehran: An Iranian newspaper has been banned after carrying articles critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policies, the state Press TV satellite station said on its website.

A government media body revoked the licence of Tehran Emrooz on Saturday, Press TV said.

It said the newspaper was launched 18 months ago and was seen as being close to Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative who analysts say is a potential rival of Ahmadinejad in next year's presidential election.

Tehran Emrooz's publisher was summoned to a court on Sunday to answer charges of "printing pictures and editorial material insulting to the president and propagation of lies with the intention of agitating public opinion", Fars News Agency said.

The daily last week published a special issue on the third anniversary of Ahmadinejad's election that included articles criticising the government's economic record, Press TV said.

The daily's editorial board acknowledged on Sunday it had gone beyond fair criticism of the government and issued an apology, the official IRNA news agency said.