SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore schools have begun a clampdown on students who insult teachers in online journals by punishing them with suspensions.

In August, five junior college students who posted derogatory remarks about their teachers and vice-principal on their blogs, or online journals, were suspended for three days, the Straits Times reported.

In May, a Singapore student shut down his blog after a government agency threatened to sue for what it said were untrue and serious accusations.

Lawyers say students could be sued for defamation, even if a teacher was not named.