Thailand’s military-installed government has blocked access to YouTube from within the country after the authorities found a video clip that they deemed insulting to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Insulting the monarchy is a criminal offence in the country.

“We have asked YouTube to remove the clip, but we have had no cooperation," a spokesman for Thailand’s communications ministry said. "If they remove the clip, we will consider lifting the ban.”

The 44-second YouTube clip shows images of the king, crudely altered on a graphics program, which flash on the screen to the tune of the Thai national anthem.

One image shows the monarch next to a photograph of feet, which are considered the lowest part of the body in Buddhism. Such juxtaposition would be hugely offensive in Thailand, a mainly Buddhist country. The profile of the YouTube user who posted the clip lists his location as the United States.

The action against YouTube was part of a broader attempt to block sites deemed offensive in the country undertaken by the Thai Government earlier today.

“It’s not about freedom of expression,” Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, the minister of information and technology, said. “People who create these [websites] are abusing their rights and clearly don’t mean well for the country.”

Critics have accused the government of shutting websites that criticise the September coup that overthrew the prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Sitthichai said that the government is only targeting pornographic sites and those that are deemed insulting to the monarchy.

One of the sites shut down was launched by an anti-coup group, which calls itself Saturday Voice Against Dictators and has been holding protests demanding that coup leaders transfer power to a democratically elected government. The group has also accused the king’s chief adviser, Prem Tinsulanonda, of playing a role in the coup.

Mr Sitthichai said that remarks considered insulting to the king’s advisers would also result in a website being closed. He declined to say how many websites had already been shut or to give the number currently under surveillance.

Times recommends

• Point-and-go computers consign mouse to history
• YoYotech Fi7epower: the world's fastest PC
• Bridging the gap between mind and machine