Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has ordered the lifting of a ban
on several websites critical of him, according to a statement
published by the official news agency WAFA.
The statement, published on Saturday, said Abbas had issued "clear
instructions to all organs of the Palestinian National Authority to
work to ensure freedom of opinion and expression."
Abbas instructed the public prosecutor and other officials to
reject "the closure or blocking of any website," and expressed "the
need for the lifting of bans or any action contrary to freedom of the
media."
The statement comes after the public prosecutor blocked a number of
websites carrying information on internal Palestinian politics which
were critical of Abbas.
That decision drew condemnation from Palestinian officials, rights
groups and the United States.
