Circo Fantasy has sued a top education department official and a TV personality for libel for implying that the circus is cruel to animals.

JS Productions Ltd, acting on behalf of Circo Fantasy, filed two separate libel suits against Moira Delia and the Director General at the Education Directorate, Micheline Sciberras.

The circus argued that Ms Sciberras - against whom the circus had also filed a judicial protest two weeks ago - had said she only allowed school outings when there was an educational element, adding that nowadays there was "an increased awareness on animal rights".

According to the circus, her words implied that the circus did not have any educational or cultural value. Such a value was ultimately recognised by the European Parliament.

She had also implied that the circus violated animal rights.

The libel suit against Ms Delia is about claims she made on the national broadcaster PBS, on Tuesday, when she said circuses were cruel to animals.

Such allegations had a negative impact on the circus's reputation and JS Productions held Ms Sciberras and Ms Delia liable in damages suffered.

Circo Fantasy's arrival in Malta spurred 20 animal rights organisations to hold a symbolic protest against cruelty to animals yesterday.

The circus has denied such allegations and the Animal Welfare Department said that simply keeping animals in cages and using them for entertainment did not constitute animal cruelty. It added that when the circus arrived it could inspect the animals and could take legal action if it turned out they were being ill-treated.

Lawyers Sharon Mizzi signed the libel suits.