Khatami seeks another term

TEHRAN, Iran -- President Mohammad Khatami, leader of Iran's reform movement, has registered to run in presidential elections on June 8.

The popular Khatami is widely expected to rout any hard-line opponent in his bid for another four-year term in office.

Khatami, 58, arrived at the Interior Ministry registration office in Tehran on Friday at 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) to fill out the application form.

"There have been rumors in Iran that I have doubts to run for the second term," he told reporters.

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"I have had concerns about the future of the revolution and I hesitated to find out in which position I could be more helpful for my country and how I can serve my country.

"The most important desire and demand of our nation has been the materialization of democracy and, after the revolution, the ground has been prepared for that," he said.

"In the way of reforms we have had great achievements although facing difficulties," he said.

"We have paid some price for these reforms as well, but still I think that the overall results and the achievements are prominent and positive.

"Of course, we could have been more successful and we could have gained more and we could have paid less price, but we are determined to go ahead," an emotional Khatami said, interrupting his speech to wipe away tears.

After registration, all candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council, a body that is expected to disqualify many of the leading reformists.

To qualify, candidates must be involved in politics or religion, of Iranian origin, Muslim and "faithful to the cause of the Islamic Republic."

At least 135 people have registered for the election, including at least two women.

The poll is shaping up as a contest between reformists and hard-liners, who lost control of parliament in last year's elections.

During the past 12 months, hard-liners in the judiciary have closed down more than 30 pro-democracy newspapers and detained or sentenced to jail a number of journalists, writers and political activists.

Some 42 million people of Iran's 62 million population are eligible to vote.

Khatami's program of relaxing Iran's strict social code and promoting political freedom is hugely popular. However, hard-liners oppose it as betraying the principles of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The president has nearly no executive power. The judiciary, armed forces, security apparatus and state media are controlled by the hard-liners, who take their cue from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all matters.

Last month, 42 members of Iran's main opposition group, the Freedom Movement, were arrested on charges of trying to overthrow the Islamic establishment. Some have been released on bail since.

Eighteen political groups who support Khatami are scheduled to meet Saturday to discuss the campaign. Some 220 of the 290 lawmakers have signed a letter urging Khatami to stand.

The registration ends Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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April 8, 2001
Khatami promises Iranian reform
March 11, 2001
Iran's moderate president faces wrath of hard-liners
October 25, 2000

Mohammad Khatami, President of Iran
Iran Intelligence Agencies
Human Rights in Iran
Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Democracy Network of Iran

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