Sarawak Tribune 's plight has attracted international attention with two influential media organisations calling on the government to lift the indefinite suspension on the newspaper and set an example for the Muslim world.

In a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the World Association of Newspapers (Wan) and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed 'serious concern' over the newspaper's closure.

The closure, according to them, breached the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under numerous international conventions.

Sarawak Tribune was suspended for reproducing offensive caricatures of Prophet Mohammad, first published in a Danish newspaper.

"While appreciating that the cartoons have caused offence to many Muslims in Malaysia and elsewhere, we respectfully remind you that the decision as to whether or not to publish such material is an editorial decision and not one which the state should interfere," the letter read.

The letter, dated last Friday, was signed by WAN president Gavin O'Reilly and WEF president George Brock.

Copies were also sent to United Nations secretary-general Kofi Anan and Unesco director-general Koichiro Matsuura.

'Do everything possible'

The letter also called on Abdullah to "do everything possible" to ensure that the suspension on Sarawak Tribune is immediately lifted.

"We urge you and your government to set an example to the Muslim world by demonstrating tolerance and engaging in dialogue, rather than succumbing to censorship and repression," they added in the letter.

WAN represents 18,000 publications in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. Whereas WEF is the organisation for editors within WAN.

WAN has formal representative status at the UN, Unesco and the Council of Europe.

Also condemning the closure of Sarawak Tribune , was the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). It also criticised the closure of two Yemeni newspapers on the same grounds.

"Government actions to close newspapers in Yemen and Malaysia are disturbing. While we understand this issue is deeply sensitive, the solution cannot be found in silencing newspapers, at least some of which printed the cartoons as a way to provide context and understanding.

"While Malaysia's press is tightly controlled, the closing of Sarawak Tribune marks the first time in almost 20 years that the government has resorted to shutting down a newspaper, according to local media reports," she said in a news alert.

The government has also slapped Chinese newspaper Guangming Daily with a two-week suspension over the cartoons.