Royal Gazette Editor Bill Zuill yesterday rebuffed Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney's allegations that he was "verbally and physically abused" by two reporters from this newspaper at the Annual Sports Awards.

The Minister claimed the behaviour of both reporters at City Hall on Saturday night "bordered on criminal assault" while they questioned him on whether he had overturned the nominating committee by naming James Stout as Male Athlete of the Year. Olympic swimmer Roy Allen Burch had been the committee's first choice to win.

In a strongly worded statement released to all local media late on Sunday night, Minister Blakeney said: "The behaviour of The Royal Gazette reporters was insulting, offensive and bordered on criminal assault. Sports Editor Adrian Robson physically barred my exit from the event demanding answers to his questions.

"While free speech is certainly everyone's right, so is it that every person has a right not to respond to false accusations and insinuations of political interference.

"I was appalled by the behaviour of these reporters and will be writing to The Royal Gazette Editor asking that his reporters act with far more decorum and in a more professional manner."

Yesterday Mr. Zuill insisted he was satisfied that both reporters has acted in professional manner and looked forward to Minister Blakeney withdrawing his accusation.

"I have looked into Mr. Blakeney's allegations and discussed them with both Adrian Robson, and Stephen Wright, who was also present at the Sports Awards and attempted unsuccessfully to introduce himself to Mr. Blakeney," said Mr. Zuill.

"Having done so, I am satisfied that both reporters were professional in their approach to Mr. Blakeney. The fact that they did not give up trying to ask questions of Mr. Blakeney when he ignored them speaks more to Mr. Blakeney's attitude than theirs."

Mr. Zuill said that claims that Mr. Blakeney was "stalked" and "verbally and physically abused and "bordered on criminal assault" were incorrect and libellous.

"Mr. Blakeney knows better than most people that accusing someone of assault is a very serious allegation. When he writes to me, I look forward to seeing that he has withdrawn that accusation," Mr. Zuill said.

"Finally, I must say that Mr. Blakeney could have spared himself and the community a good deal of grief if he had answered questions on this issue after they were first aired on ZBM on Thursday night."