Pakistan Lifts Ban on YouTube

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan's telecoms regulator said Tuesday it has lifted restrictions on the YouTube Web site after the removal of a "blasphemous" video clip.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told Internet service providers to restore access to the site after the clip became inaccessible, spokeswoman Nabiha Mahmood said.

Pakistan ordered the site blocked on Friday over a clip featuring a Dutch lawmaker who has said he plans to release a movie portraying Islam as fascist and prone to inciting violence. The move accidentally knocked out access to the popular video-sharing site in many other countries for up to two hours.