Iran reformists fight for survival after poll bar

Angry Iranian reformists led by the president launched a fight for their political survival yesterday after a hardline watchdog barred thousands of liberal candidates from running in next month's parliamentary polls.

The action of the hardline Guardian Council, described by one leading reformist as a "coup d'etat", set reformists and conservatives on a collision course and could force the government to abandon the February 20 vote.

All of Iran's 27 provincial governors threatened to resign unless the decision is reversed within a week.

Outraged reformers said the bans were bound to draw international fire and vowed to resist the council, a 12-member conservative body that has blocked scores of reform bills passed by parliament in recent years.

Around 70 reformist MPs staged a sit-in at parliament and said they might boycott the election.

"The situation is like a football match in which the referee sends off one team and invites the other side to score," Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi told journalists.

According to the official news agency IRNA, over 80 incumbent lawmakers, all key reformers, have been barred from seeking another term. Parliament members say about 900 of the 1,700 hopefuls for seats in Tehran have also been disqualified from running.

A Guardian Council spokesman said in all 2,033 of the 8,200 aspiring candidates had been barred, but MPs said the figure was higher. President Mohammed Khatami told journalists: "I don't view these methods as compatible with the principles of religious democracy."

Iran's interior ministry, the body responsible for organising elections, said the move by conservatives was "illegal" and would not be enforced. "The interior ministry regrets the massive rejection of candidates and affirms that a number of candidates have been disqualified outside the framework of the law," it said in a statement.

Khatami said he would hold talks with the Guardian Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the last word on state issues.

Those disqualified include Mohammed Reza Khatami and Behzad Nabavi, vice-speakers of parliament. Khatami is leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, Iran's largest reformist party, and a younger brother of the president.

He said reformists might call on the government to scrap the election if the hardline vetoes were not overruled. Also disqualified were reformist lawmakers Fatemeh Haqiqatjou and Elaheh Koulaee, who fought for women's rights.

Mohsen Mirdamadi, the head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and one of those disqualified, said the Guardian Council's decision was a "bloodless coup," IRNA reported.

"Through these massive disqualifications, the hard-liners want only their own thinking to control the next parliament. This will be no more an election but an appointment of the next parliament by hardliners," IRNA quoted Mirdamadi as saying.

Reformist sources said many of the MPs had been barred for signing outspoken letters to Khamenei in recent months calling for democratic reforms. Media reports said other candidates had been vetoed for drug taking and association with fringe political groups.