The government of Malaysia is reported to have imposed an indefinite ban on log imports from Indonesia.

The Malaysian state run news agency Bernama quoted the Primary Industries Minister, Lim Keng Yaik, as saying the move was aimed at combating allegations that the country was buying illegally-produced timber and selling products made from it to consumers worldwide.

Indonesia itself recently prohibited log exports, following allegations by environmentalists that much of the output came from forests which were not sustainably managed.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service