*SINGAPORE PASSES NEW LAW*

SINGAPORE : passed a law on Wednesday making it possible to ban photographs or videos of terror attack sites or communicating information-

About security operations amid criticism from rights groups that the move could curb press freedom.

The wealthy city-state ranks as one of the safest countries in the world, but authorities say it has been a target of Islamic extremists since the 1990s and they have stepped up efforts to deter an attack.

The bill proposed last month, includes provisions to ban anyone from taking videos or photographs of the area of a terror attack or transmitting them.

It can also ban communication of text or audio messages about the security operations in the area.

The measures can be taken under a ''communications stop'' order of approved by the home affairs minister and activated by the police commissioner.

The CSO {Communications stop order} is not an information blackout throughout the terror incident,'' Josephine Teo, minister in the Prime Minister's Office, told parliament ahead of the vote.

[Agencies]