HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):

Britain's Minister for Overseas Territories, Meg Munn, has spoken of the importance of a free media in the wake of a move by the Bermuda government to withdraw its subscriptions and advertisements from the Royal Gazette, the island's only daily newspaper.

Before the last general election in December last year, Premier Ewart Brown hinted that either he or his Progressive Labour Party would start a newspaper. It was not known whether the government's move was linked to that intention, but critics claimed it was part of a plan to destablise the Royal Gazette for political reasons.

While indicating that it would be inappropriate for her to say whether government's move was designed to muzzle the press, Munn said "I think freedom of speech and democracy are what we would aspire to all over the world. We aspire to a free but responsible press".