PBS confirmed early Monday morning on its official Twitter account that the website had been hacked - AP File Photo

ARLINGTON: PBS officials say hackers have cracked the public broadcaster's website. The hackers apparently posted a phony story claiming dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand.

PBS confirmed early Monday morning on its official Twitter account that the website had been hacked. The phony story had been taken down as of Monday morning. It had been posted on the site of the ''PBS Newshour'' program. PBS officials did not immediately respond to phone and email messages.

A tweet from the ''Newshour'' Twitter account said: ''If you missed it: our site has been accessed by hackers. Thanks for staying with us.''

A group calling itself LulzSec claimed responsibility and posted links to other hacks, including a video apparently taunting the network. Taunting messages were also posted on the group's Twitter page.