IOC chief presses China on media access

BEIJING (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has insisted that China fully implement regulations governing foreign media as soon as possible, he said on Thursday.

In January 2007, China introduced regulations governing the media for the Beijing Olympics, but restrictions remain for foreign media wanting to report in Tibet and the other western region of Xinjiang.

"We asked the Chinese to pass the media law, which they did," Rogge, who met Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Wednesday, told a news conference.

"We know the implementation of this law is not perfect, there are shortcomings. I have asked the authorities to implement the media law in full ... and I have insisted this must be done as soon as possible."

Foreign media were prevented from going to Tibet and other regions with Tibetan minorities after the riots in the area in mid-March. Since then only a few government-selected media have been allowed to the region on tightly organized visits.

Beijing made a commitment as host city of the August 8-24 sporting showpiece to allow media the same freedom to report as they enjoyed at previous Games.

Rogge also said that media would be allowed free access to uncensored Internet during the Games.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Ken Wills and Sanjeev Miglani)

(Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at blogs.reuters.com/china)