Moscow, Oct 23: Russia's Lower House of Parliament passed a bill today limiting the media's right to report on anti-terrorist operations and prohibiting them from carrying rebel statements.

The bill, passed by the state Duma 259-34 with two abstentions in the second reading, would prohibit the media from distributing information that hinders a counter-terrorist operation, "reveals special methods and tactics" used in such operations or reveals information about people involved in them. It would also ban the media from carrying "statements by individuals that are aimed at hindering a counter-terrorist operation and/or justifying resistance to a counter-terrorist operation" and other "propaganda or justification of extremist activity."

To become law, the bill must be passed by the Duma in a third reading - usually a formality - approved by the Upper House and signed by President Vladimir Putin. The limitations would likely affect coverage of the war with separatists in Chechnya, which officials refer to as a "counter-terrorist operation." Bureau Report