TEHRAN The reformist-dominated Majlis reiterated previous calls that the scope of the security measures law should not overlap with that of the Press Law which has thus far shut over 25 periodicals, mostly pro-reform, and incarcerated dozens of reformist journalists.

In an open session here on Sunday, MPs overwhelmingly approved a previous interpretation of the Press Law which had been forwarded to the Expediency Council (EC) which is the final arbiter in disputes between the Majlis and the constitutional review body -- the Guardian Council (GC).

The GC, empowered by the Constitution to review laws or decisions on constitutional or religious grounds, has twice rebuffed a Majlis resolution which interpreted a provision of the Press Law as requiring no prior consent from the Judiciary before a publication can change the frequency or coverage of its publication.

The GC said the resolution was "un-Islamic" because it contradicts a decision of Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a letter sent to Majlis in August this year the Leader forestalled a Majlis debate on proposed amendments to the tough Press Law.

Majlis stressed in November that as far as the particular provision of the Press Law is concerned, "There is no need of clarification from the Judiciary or the police."

Majlis deputies overwhelmingly approved a resolution a month ago giving publications the go-signal to change from weekly to daily or from local to national distribution without having to obtain prior permission from the Judiciary.

The Majlis resolution would have been a victory for the press which has had a staggering number of its newspapers closed down by the Judiciary in a wave of crackdowns since late April this year.

A number of journalists and/or editors have also been arrested in connection with the crackdown and are now serving prison sentences while others are out on heavy bail pending trial.

(IRNA)