NEW YORK, Aug 13: A Washington grand jury, investigating the disclosure of the name of a CIA undercover agent, has summoned New York Times reporter Judith Miller, but the newspaper said on Friday it would fight the order.

A Washington judge has already held Time magazine journalist Matthew Cooper in contempt for refusing to divulge his sources in the same case. "We regret that the special prosecutor has chosen to issue a subpoena that seeks to compel Judy Miller to reveal her confidential sources," said New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger was quoted as saying in the newspaper.

"Journalists should not have to face the prospect of imprisonment for doing nothing more than aggressively seeking to report on the government's actions," added the executive. "Such subpoenas make it less likely that sources will be willing to talk candidly with reporters and ultimately it is the public that suffers." -AFP