The publisher of The Miami Herald newspaper has resigned, and reversed the recent firings of two reporters who accepted payment from the U.S. government for broadcast work.

Jesus Diaz was publisher of the English-language paper and its Spanish-language edition, El Nuevo Herald. He announced his resignation, Tuesday.

Diaz authorized the firings and he said he still believes the reporters in question had a conflict of interest in accepting payments from the government's Office of Cuba Broadcasting. But he said in a letter to readers the fired reporters will be allowed to return to the newspaper.

The OCB paid the journalists to appear as guests on programs of U.S. government to Cuba.

The dismissals caused controversy in the Cuban-American community.

Diaz said an investigation revealed that several other employees of the newspaper also had accepted payments from Radio Marti and TV Marti for appearances. He said they would not be disciplined.

He said it was clear the newspaper had not communicated well its conflict-of-interest policy.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

Commentary: