Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader Belden Namah has warned the government against making moves to control the media.
The comment came in response to the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's decision to file a defamation suit against the opposition leader and local TV station EMTV.
Mr O'Neill announced on Tuesday he was suing Belden Namah, his former deputy, after accusing the prime minister of benefiting financially from government contracts.
The allegations which were aired on EMTV were denied by Mr O'Neill.
Mr Namah says he welcomes Mr O'Neill's decision to sue and says the reaction is not surprising given the issues that the Opposition has brought to light in recent times.
He said in this case the Prime Minister should leave EMTV alone and let the media do its work and report without fear or favor.
Mr Namah says the threat by the Prime Minister to cancel EMTV's licence is an act of a dictator.
