MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's first 24-hour English-language news channel, Russia Today, suspended broadcasting Monday after hackers tried to break into its computer network, the channel said in a news release.

"The TV channel was forced to suspend broadcasting after attempts were made to break into Russia Today's computer network, raising suspicions of a virus," the news release said. "The channel will suspend broadcasting until technical faults have been fixed."

Russia Today apologized to viewers for the inconvenience.

The channel, which hit airwaves for the first time Saturday, employs about 500 people, including 80 foreign specialists.

Plans to create Russia Today were announced in June and technical broadcasting began September 15.