BEIRUT: Employees at the government-run Tele Liban television channel called off a planned "escalation" in protests after receiving assurances that staff who had not been paid in February will get their pay checks.

A statement by Tele Liban union employees said the decision to grant the government a reprieve came following a meeting with Information Minister Walid Daouk, who promised that the government would pay their salaries.

Tele Liban employees had threatened to step up action if their demand for timely payment of wages remained unmet.

The head of the Union of Television Employees in Lebanon, Nada Saliba Choueiri, had been quoted as saying that if Tele Liban staff did not receive their pay by Feb. 6, a general meeting would be held the following day to agree on additional measures, including the possibility of a strike.

President Michel Sleiman and Information Minister Walid Daouk met Tuesday in Baabda palace and discussed steps and preparations by the ministry to strengthen public radio and TV.