Internet media giant Yahoo said yesterday it would remove all pornographic videos and DVDs from its shopping and auction channels and turn down requests for related advertising in response to a backlash of user complaints.

Yahoo said the changes would be implemented over the next few weeks in the United States.

"Many of our users voiced concerns this week about some of the products sold by merchants on Yahoo Shopping," Yahoo president and chief operating officer Mr Jeff Mallett said. "We heard them and swiftly responded."

Under pressure to diversify amid a slump in online advertising, Yahoo confirmed earlier this week that it had begun to offer a broad selection of adult material, including hard-core porn videos and DVDs, through its popular shopping service.

In an interview earlier this week, Mr Mallett defended the company's decision to include porn along with items such as computers and children's toys as part of Yahoo's strategy to be the largest commerce site on the Internet.

In response, one California conservative lobby group called for consumers to boycott Yahoo and to write to the company to protest at its policy.

In its statement yesterday, Yahoo said it would remove adult materials from the shopping, auction and classified areas of its site.)