21 January 2008: Mind what you say

When four Lebanese university students didn't enjoy the singing of a woman they met at a party they decided to comment on it on an Internet social networking site called Facebook.

They probably thought no more of it; until police arrived and arrested them on a charge of slander and "violating public morality", following a complaint by the young woman's father.

The students -- all male -- were ordered to be held in preventive detention for a week.

Human rights groups have criticised the actions of the authorities.