Tripoli - Two Libyan newspapers that are closely linked to the country's reformist camp said they have been forced to suspend publication, but officials denied that politics was involved.
The newspapers are affiliated to Saif al-Islam, a reform-minded son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who, analysts say, is competing with a conservative old guard for control over the levers of power in the oil-producing country.
The rivalry in Libya between reformers and conservatives is watched closely by Western oil majors. They have invested billions of dollars in oil and gas projects and worry these could be jeopardised by shifts in the political landscape.
The Al Ghad media company, owner of the Oea and Quryna papers, said it had been under pressure from the state-controlled printing press and from officials unhappy about an article in Oea predicting a government reshuffle.
"The company's board decided...to suspend the two newspapers," said a statement posted on Quryna's Internet site. "The board decided to continue publication of the online editions and do whatever possible to develop their content."
The company opted to suspend publication to "avoid damaging relations with readers," the statement said.
The Oea and Quryna newspapers have published articles alleging official corruption and demanding reform - unusual in a country where most media are deferential to the government.
The state-controlled General Press Agency, which manages the presses where both newspapers are printed, denied that it was blocking their publication.
It said in a statement printed in the al-Shams newspaper that the media group's version of events was misleading and that the problems stemmed from the newspapers' own management.
Media industry sources in Libya have told Reuters that the al-Ghad group has not paid for use of the printing presses for several months.
RIVAL CAMPS
After decades of international isolation and a Socialist-style economy, reformists led by Saif al-Islam have made steps to improve Libya's foreign ties, reform its bureaucracy and bring in foreign investment.
In October Saif al-Islam was nominated to a post which, in effect, makes him the second most powerful figure in Libya.
His appointment has not been confirmed, but the move convinced observers he was being groomed to succeed his father.
Analysts say however that he has faced resistance from conservative groups, including some in his father's entourage.
In April last year the Libyan government took control over the independent television station Al Libia, which was also owned by the al-Ghad group.
Suleiman Dughah, a journalist living abroad who had been critical of Muammar Gaddafi's rule, returned to Libya last year to take over as director of the media group.
- (Reporting by Ali Shuaib in Tripoli and Lamine Chikhi in Algiers; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Diana Abdallah) - Reuters