A Facebook spokesman said: "We discovered a bug in one of our reporting flows that allows people to report multiple instances of inappropriate content simultaneously".

A Facebook spokesman said: "This action was taken in error, and Mr Rushdie's account has been reactivated with the correct name.

A Facebook spokesman said in response to a question that it did not require the company to obtain "opt in" data-sharing permission for new products.

A Facebook spokesman said: "Upon discovering the bug, we immediately disabled the system."

A Facebook spokesman said: "We are reviewing the decision and continue to believe that the case is without merit."

A Facebook spokesman said: "Protecting the people who use Facebook has always been our top priority.

Mr. Hughes, the Facebook spokesman, says that when the site could not be accessed via the university's networks, half the users continued to sign on through outside networks.

A Facebook spokesman said: "The group was removed in error.

Internet fraudsters stole the passwords of a number of members on Thursday in a successful attack, a Facebook spokesman said.

The AP quotes a Facebook spokesman saying the page "deteriorated to direct calls for violence."