���˿���

Twitter has banned almost 6,000 accounts for being part of an alleged state-backed information operation originating in Saudi Arabia.

The social media network announced the bans in a public blog posted on Friday.

It accused the accounts of violating its "platform manipulation policies" as part of a "significant" operation.

Twitter said they were part of a larger network of more than 88,000 accounts engaging in "spammy behaviour" on a "wide range of topics".

"Primarily, accounts were amplifying messages favourable to Saudi authorities, mainly through inauthentic engagement tactics such as aggressive liking, retweeting and replying," .

Twitter said the majority of the content was in Arabic, but some also "related to events relevant to Western audiences".

Twitter believe the "co-ordinated" activity can be traced to a social media marketing company called Smaat based in Saudi Arabia.

���˿��� News has approached both the Saudi government and Smaat for comment about Twitter's allegations.

The bans that seven Saudi accounts, including that of a former royal adviser, had been banned for similar alleged behaviour.