Ali Abdel Aal

Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal said he has been keen to allow journalists assigned with covering the parliament's news do their job freely out of his belief that communities cannot advance without the freedom of the press.

During a meeting with newspapers chief editors and MENA board chairman Monday, Abdel Aal said the parliament deals with the Syndicate of Journalists as the sole side responsible for the coverage.

The parliament deals exclusively with journalists accredited with the Syndicate of Journalists.

Meanwhile, parliament secretary general Ahmed Saad said the number of journalists assigned with covering the parliament news had reached 165, creating a problem of place availability.

For his part, deputy speaker El Sayed el Sherif said the parliament is considering the idea of allowing photojournalists fully cover the parliament sessions.