First it was Google. Now it is Altavista as Internet surfers in China are blocked from accessing the search engine by the Chinese authorities on September 6, said a report by AFP.

China is said to routinely block sites that feature politcal views that are disagreeable to the authorities. Other offensive sites that are banned include pornography. But it has never banned search engines until now, AFP added. However, the source said that Chinese surfers are finding other ways to get round the blocks through the many tips given in places such as chatrooms.

No specific reasons were given why the two search engines were blocked. Google is said to be working with the Chinese authorities now in an attempt to remove the block.