China's media watchdog said on Sunday it has suspended advertising services for four newspapers which it found posting "illegal" drug-related advertisements.

In an inspection of advertisements, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce found the four offending newspapers had "a high frequency of posting illegal advertisements", a GAPP official said.

The agencies accused the publications of "posting drug advertisements without authorization", "bluffing drug effects" and advertising for drugs and medical equipment and services through news reports.

Two newspapers based in Jilin and Hebei province were banned from posting drug-related advertisements for 30 days. The other two, based in Hainan and Shandong, received the same penalty for seven days, the official said.

GAPP also ordered the papers to overhaul their advertising service management.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2007)