Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party has been blocked from introducing harsh new legislation. His party was outvoted by the Movement for Democratic Change by 36 votes to 22.
Mr Mugabe had said that the measures were needed to restore law and order in the country. Opposition leaders accused him of trying to suppress dissent prior to a presidential election in March.
The bill sought to introduce new restrictions on the media. These included a ban on foreign nationals working as correspondents in Zimbabwe and prison sentences for local journalists found guilty of publishing stories deemed likely to cause alarm or despondency.
