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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran's reformers take swipe at conservative presidential hopeful |
| 2005-05-05 |
| Iran's reformist camp has launched a virulent attack against ex-police chief and top conservative presidential election contender Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf over his alleged backing of the repression of student demonstrators. Government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, who was widely quoted in the press Wednesday, lambasted Qalibaf for having co-signed an open letter in July 1999 from top commanders in the hard-line Revolutionary Guards warning their "patience was at an end" as student-led protests gripped the capital. The letter urged the government of President Mohammad Khatami to act against the pro-democracy protests, which were eventually halted by a violent crackdown and widespread arrests. "It is an honor for the Khatami government that those who had written to Mr Khatami saying their patience was at an end ... are today wearing slick suits and supporting progress through reforms," Ramazanzadeh said in an unprecedented personal swipe at Qalibaf. With just over a month to go before the Islamic Republic goes to the polls, Qalibaf has emerged as one of the main contenders in the race to replace Khatami - who is near the end of his second consecutive and therefore final term in office. But since resigning as national police chief to contest the June 17 election, Qalibaf has been under fire from his rivals over his past as commander of the Revolutionary Guards air force. Members of Iran's military are barred from directly entering politics, and even after retiring from the armed forces have traditionally refrained from attempting to reach senior positions in the regime. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Sigh. That it isn't obvious beyond the shadow of a doubt that ''reform'' is a fucking joke to Khomeini & Co makes this tool and his cohorts among the most foolish humans on the planet. Still wanking about that toothless slightly-better-than-a-Qomeini (no, that's not a typo) tool Khatami? Oh baby, you're retarded. No election will remove the Mullahcracy, jackass. Get serious. When we hear the incredibly loud ''POP!'' - we'll know you've finally pulled your head out of your ass. Wotta tool. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-05-05 06:35 |