Even the sky seems to be weeping for press freedom, remarked a senior journalist when heavy rain cut short a candlelight vigil held in protest over the axing of China Press' top two editors outside the daily's office in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director Sonia Randhawa kicked-off the vigil at about 6.30pm under the watchful eyes of four uniformed policemen.

Addressing the 30-odd crowd, she said newspapers should be allowed to operate independently.

"There should be no interference from the government in the running of a newspaper. They should be allowed to act independently," she added.

Later, she asked those present to observe a moment of silence, for what she described, as "another death knell for press freedom".

Many candles were lit near the gates of the daily's office but the crowd began to disperse when the skies turned dark.

Yesterday, it was announced that China Press editor-in-chief Chong Choong Nam and executive editor-in-chief Wang Zhao Ping would resign over an error in the report concerning the controversial nude squat video clip.

The daily was the first to report on the incident and its Nov 23 evening edition, described the woman in the clip as a Chinese national. However, she was later identified as a local.

On Dec 19, the daily received a show-cause letter from the Internal Security Ministry.

The daily, which is owned by MCA, had also carried a front-page apology.