Saudi tabloid closed for printing cartoons

Riyadh: A Saudi newspaper was shut down on Monday following the printing of some of the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as part of a campaign for more action against Denmark, where the drawings first appeared.

The tabloid Shams (Sun) aimed at a youth audience in the Kingdom had printed the cartoons three weeks ago alongside an interview with Saudi cleric Salman Al Awdah who sought to widen a boycott of Denmark and other countries where the offending cartoons were printed.

The suspension of publication is part of an inquiry into its decision to publish the cartoons - one of few newspapers in the Arab world to do so.

Shams had tackled controversial issues since its launch two months ago