ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria has said that it has temporarily blocked Facebook and some other social media networks to stop cheating in upcoming school exams.

The move follows leaks of baccalaureate papers and exam questions online ahead of retakes.

In a statement Sunday, the Ministry of Post and Information and Communication Technology said that the "cut of social networks has a direct relationship with the matriculation exams" which begin Sunday.

The ministry said that the unusual move was made to protect students from "phony topics" that might appear on social media.

It added that all other parts of the internet were not affected.