(CEMESP/IFEX) - The Speaker of the 52nd Legislature of Liberia has expressed regrets over his decision to order the seizure of the cameras of two journalists during their coverage of that august body.

Speaker Alex Tyler’s made his position during a meeting to end the ongoing media block – out placed on the House of Representatives by the Legislative Press Pool. Journalists covering the National Legislature make up the Legislative Press Pool.

The June 13, 2011 meeting was held under the auspices of the President of the Press Union of Liberia  Peter Quaqua and  lawmaker Kettehkumueh Murray.

During the meeting according to a Press Union of Liberia release, Mr. Quaqua, told the Speaker that his declaration for the seizure of the journalists’ cameras was wrong.

The PUL boss also indicated Representative Matthew Darblo needed to be told that regardless of his personal dislikes of a journalist, he cannot transfer his anger into his job as public official. 

At the same time, the Union reminded journalists covering the legislature to remain steadfast in the performance of their jobs, but should observe rules.

Meanwhile the Legislative Press Pool has voted to lift the media bloke-out imposed on the House of Representatives two weeks ago.

The decision followed a meeting Tuesday-June 14 on Capitol Hill, and a day after calls by the Press Union of Liberia for the bloke-out to be relaxed.

In a release, the Legislative Press Pool welcomed the PUL intervention but said it was constrained to maintain the individual media bloke-out on three Representatives.

They include Matthew Darblo of Grand Cape Mount, Kuku Dorbor and Dave Koomeh of Montserrado.

“The three lawmakers are known to have publicly supported physical and verbal attacks as well as the harassment of journalists Roland Perry of the Informer Newspaper and Boima Boima of the New Democrat on May 31, 2011.

President of the Legislative Press Pool Julius Kanubah said though his organization has now declared the Lower House a safe zone for journalists, it is still awaiting apologies from lawmakers Matthew Darblo, Kuku Dorbor and Dave Koomeh.

On May 31 of this year, Legislative reporters instituted a media block-out on the House in protest to an order by Speaker Alex Tyler for the cameras of two of their colleagues to be seized.