The Tucson Citizen will not shut down as announced pending negotiations between the paper's publisher, Gannett Co. Inc., and two interested buyers The Associated Press reported.

Robert J. Dickey, president of Gannett's U.S. Community Publishing, said the negotiations will be finished by Saturday, thus extending the paper's life span from the original March 21 deadline for sale or closure.

The Citizen's editor, Jennifer Boice, confirmed the paper would continue publishing after the 21, and that it plans to delay the printing of its final commemorative edition, the AP reported.

Gannett is eager to decide the fate of the paper and affirmed in an official statement that in light of the sales negotiations the company would "delay a decision regarding the potential sale or closure of the Tucson Citizen, but expects to make a decision in the very short term."

No details have been released regarding potential buyers or what was being negotiated. Questions concerning promised severance packages and the fate of staffers have also arisen.