MUMBAI: Al Jazeera, the news channel known for its bold and controversial content, is banned in Egypt amid a wave of people protests against the dictatorial rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The Arabic TV channel telecast live reports from Cairo and other Egyptian cities swept by anti-government protests, interviewed opposition leaders and protestors and provided exclusive information on riots, lootings and victims in Egypt.

In a swift move, the government, keen to contain the spreading unrest, banned the channel that has been prompt in reporting the anti-government protests.

According to a government communiqué, the accreditations of Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt have been cancelled and the TV channel's access to satellite communication has been closed.

The channel was a major news source for Egyptians, as it had the largest network of correspondents across Egypt.

The pan-Arab channel, owned by the Emir of Qatar, was quick to denounce Egypt's move as "silencing the voices of the Egyptian people."

Al Jazeera has become a pwerful force in the Middle East and is often criticised for biased reporting and pursuing an openly populist agenda. But it is also, perhaps, the first channel to reach into homes across the region, outplaying the tightly controlled state media.