BAIDOA, Somalia Dec 8 (Garowe Online) - Somali legislators meeting in the south-central city of Baidoa debated media rights in the country Saturday and passed a new bill that would regulate the media nationwide.

Lawmakers listened to a presentation from a committee composed of parliamentarians and media representatives who helped draft the new bill.

Mohamed Omar Dalha, a deputy Speaker of parliament, read the tally after the vote.

Out of 159 MPs present, 145 MPs voted in favor of the new media law, six MPs refused and eight MPs abstained, he announced.

A committee from the ministry of information and a group of journalists held several meetings in Baidoa in recent weeks as they laid down the framework for the new law.

An important clause in the new bill states that authorities can hold reporters and editors from independent news agencies accountable for publishing "false information" in their publications.

The media's relations with the Somali transitional government has been strained since the beginning of the year, with numerous journalists jailed and news organizations forcibly shut down.

Three major Mogadishu radio stations were allowed to resume operations only last week after police shut them down in mid-November.

Meanwhile, the director of Mogadishu-based Noble Quran Radio is in jail for the eighth straight day and authorities have not given any reason for his arrest. [ Full story ]

Source: Garowe Online