Accra, June 3, GNA - Battle-ready Alhaji Inusah Abdulai Fuseini took a pacifist stand when he withdrew charges against Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah whom he accused of using slanderous comments against northerners on Thursday. According to Alhaji Fuseini, Mr Asiamah had apologised unconditionally using the very platform he used to make the allegation.

Mr Asiamah, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Fanteakw= a was alleged to have defamed the people of the Northern Region on a radio programme. Alhaji Fuseini, Deputy Energy Minister and National Democratic Congres= s MP for Tamale Central made the complaint on Wednesday, praying the House to tug Mr Asiamah to the Privileges Committee. Endorsing the withdrawal of the complain, Mrs Joyce Bamford 96 Addo Speaker of Parliament said complaints about MPs both within and outside the House must be heard at the leadership level before it was put at the plenary. She noted that in the event that the case was not resolved it would be brought before the House. The Speaker said such issues when handled at the leadership level woul= d help fish the facts before it would come to the plenary. "It is my dream that if there is some problem, it must be dealt with at the leadership level to help know the facts," she said.

The Speaker ruled that the matter should be referred to the leadership of the House for amicable settlement. Papa Owusu 96 Ankomah NPP MP for Sekondi said with all his experience= as a former Majority Leader matters bothering on the privileges of members mus= t be handled at the leadership level. Mr Osei Kyei - Mensah=96Bonsu Minority Leader, thanked the member for withdrawing the matter.