His Majesty King Hamad has called for fast-tracking a new Press law that reflects Bahrain's democratic progress, said a report.

He advocated an unfettered legislation which empowers journalists to lay bare facts, combat corruption, reveal dysfunctions and enlighten public opinion, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

In a keynote address marking World Press Freedom Day, which falls today, the King urged officials, regardless of their positions, to respect the Press and co-operate with journalists for the sake of national interest.

His Majesty pledged to continue defending the Press and mass media against attempts to curb its freedom and prevent them from assuming their role as enshrined in the country's constitution and the National Action Charter.

The King reiterated his resolve to pursue the democratic process, underscoring the importance of political and media pluralism.

Acknowledging the media's crucial role in protecting Bahrain's security, the King urged journalists to exercise freedom responsibly. They should promote tolerance, respect and religious freedoms, he pointed out.

He also paid tribute to "intellectual pioneers" and underlined the responsible role played by the media during the 2011 unrest in debunking false media campaigns.

He also praised the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day, "Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda".-TradeArabia News Service