The Mail and Guardian newspaper in South Africa has been barred from publishing a story about an oil company -- one that may be financially supporting the ruling African National Congress party.

An excerpt from the BBC story:

We've been gagged," editor Ferial Hafajee said.

"Our biggest concern is press freedom, but we will respect the court's hearing," she added.

The four-hour hearing in the Johannesburg High Court took place after the printing of the paper had already begun on Thursday night.

Advocate Nazeer Cassim, appearing for Imvume, argued that the paper had obtained information illegally, infringing the company's constitutional right to privacy and dignity.

The Mail & Guardian's advocate, John Campbell, argued that the facts in the article did not infringe the company's rights as they had been confirmed by another source.

Mail & Guardian staff worked late into the night to produce an edition with the banned information blacked out.