Dutch MPs told off for Tweeting in parliament

Netherlands' Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen pauses during a news conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem after a meeting in Damascus June 22, 2009. Several Dutch politicians, including Verhagen, are active on Twitter, the Internet text message service.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The president of the Dutch lower house has told off members of parliament for posting messages on social networking site Twitter during parliamentary debates, Dutch media reported.

Gerdi Verbeet, president of the Dutch house of representatives, said on Wednesday she had spoken to some MPs and felt out of courtesy they should concentrate on debates and not be writing messages online, Dutch agency ANP reported.

Several Dutch politicians, including Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, are active on Twitter, the Internet text message service that allows users to post updates-- called "tweets"-- of up to 140 characters.

(Reporting by Catherine Hornby)