QUITO, (Reuters) – Ecuador yesterday took the local  Teleamazonas private channel off the air for three days in a  move likely to fuel concerns among President Rafael Correa’s  critics about press freedom.

The Telecommunications Superintendency said the sanction  against Teleamazonas was over charges that the channel  broadcast alarmist material about an event with Correa months  earlier.

“The sanction is for three days. Teleamazonas is off the  air,” said a spokesperson for the superintendency.

Teleamazonas, which is viewed across the Andean country and  has been critical of leftist Correa, said the measure was  illegal and it was considering legal action.

Correa has in the past said some private media stations  conspired against his government. Teleamazonas was under  investigation for violations of a law drafted by a military  dictatorship nearly 35 years ago.

Correa says tighter media regulation is needed, but his  campaign parallels similar moves taken by Venezuelan President  Hugo Chavez, who two years ago refused to renew the license of  one private broadcaster.