Bahraini authorities announced over the weekend the expulsion of U.S filmmaker Jen Marlowe for falsifying her visa application and shooting a documentary without a permit.

Marlowe was expelled on Saturday after staying a week in the Gulf nation.

The U.S filmmaker told authorities that she had come to Bahrain "to help a friend who had recently had a baby,” AFP quoted the information affairs authority as saying.

"But investigation showed the names and addresses she gave were fabricated... While in Bahrain she has been shooting a documentary film that requires a proper visa permitting one to work in the kingdom," the information affairs authority added.

Since the beginning of the popular uprising, Bahraini authorities have deliberately been obstructing the work of reporters, activists and others who have tried to cover anti-government protests.

Many journalists from international media organisations have been denied visas to enter the country to cover the first anniversary of the Bahraini uprising back in February.

AP is now the only international news agency allowed in the country.