Yangon, Aug 10 (IANS): Myanmar has formed a 20-member Core Press Council aimed at protecting journalists, laying down professional ethics and settling media disputes.

It has been formed during the period before parliament prescribes a media law , according to a government announcement Friday.

The Core Press Council was set up with retired Supreme Court judge U Khin Maung Aye as chairman, retired principal of the UN System Staff College Aung Tun Thet and retired Myanmar language professor Khin Aye as two vice chairmen and U Ko Ko-Setmu Tekkutho as the secretary, reported Xinhua.

The council is tasked to safeguard freedom of press under law, to settle disputes and complaints from inside and outside the media and to act as a bridge among the people, the government and the press.

The announcement also said the council is to establish connections with the international organizations, handle disputes of newspersons in collecting and writing news, advise the government as to press affairs and coordinate with the government over matters related to press council among others.

The formation of the Core Press Council came more than a week after the Press Scrutiny and Registration Department temporarily suspended the publication of two private news journals - Voice and Envoy - for two weeks for allegedly breaking a directive of the Central Supervisory Committee.

The two suspended journals are expected to be able to resume publication by next week.