By Jacky Rowland BBC Moscow correspondent

Russian newspapers have expressed relief at a decision by President Vladimir Putin to veto a controversial new media law which would have imposed tough restrictions on the coverage of terrorist incidents.

The draft law had been rushed through both houses of the Russian parliament, following the Moscow theatre siege last month in which more than 120 hostages died.

It would have banned the publication of information deemed to hamper anti-terrorist operations.

Rebel leader Barayev gave interviews during the siege

It would also have prevented broadcasters and newspapers from repeating comments judged to be terrorist propaganda.

Mr Putin summoned television and newspaper editors to the Kremlin late on Monday to inform them of his decision to veto it.

He told them that the law, in its current form, would not help the fight against terrorism, but it would limit people's right to receive information.

The decision has been widely welcomed in the media community.

Newspaper commentators say it shows that the president is concerned about freedom of speech, despite his patchy record on media freedoms.

News organisations had presented a united front in lobbying against the new legislation.

Mr Putin may also have come under international pressure - US President George W Bush stressed the importance of press freedom in a television interview he gave in Russia last week.

Criticism

Opponents of the law argued that it was too vague and open to wide interpretation.

However, the media community in Russia is not in the clear yet.

Mr Putin singled out one television channel for criticism, saying it had put lives at risk in order to boost its ratings.

The draft legislation will now be given to a special commission which will take note of journalists' views when drawing up amendments.