Tunisia has banned the latest issue of French news weekly L`Express International after officials said Monday that it `offended Muslim beliefs and feelings.`

A government official told AFP that article 25 of the Tunisian press code allows the country`s interior ministry to ban the sale of foreign publications.

The magazine featured a series of articles on the relationship between Christianity and Islam.

Tunisia`s move follows a Moroccan government decision to ban the current issue of L`Express International for `insulting Islam.`

Article 29 of Morocco`s press code gives the government the right to shut down or ban any publication `prejudicial to Islam, the monarchy, territorial integrity, or public order`.

L`Express editor Christian Makarian told AFP that he did not understand Morocco`s decision to ban the magazine, especially since Mohammed`s face was covered on the front of the Morocco edition instead of being exposed like on the French version.

`We were banned despite this particular attention that shows our respect for the Moroccan public and the Muslim faith,` he said.