May 23, 1999
Web posted at: 3:02 p.m. EDT (1902 GMT)

In this story: 'Lasting pluralism and Islamic democracy' 'Don't think Islam is against freedom' Iran's supreme leader has message for crowd RELATED STORIES, SITES

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- An estimated 100,000 newly elected local council members gathered in Tehran's Azadi Stadium on Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of President Mohammad Khatami's unexpected election victory two years ago.

While the crowd chanted "Khatami, Khatami," the moderate cleric who has brought greater freedom and openness to Iran since he became president in August 1997 spoke of the need for greater tolerance.

Khatami vowed to press on with democratic reforms but warned that abuse of freedom could undermine clerical rule in the Islamic republic.

Iran is going through a sensitive transitional period toward "lasting pluralism and Islamic democracy," he said, which has produced tensions between his reformist supporters and conservatives opposed to fundamental changes.

"We have to be aware of the sensitivity and be alert about this transitional period. Many of the things happening which we think are not correct are because of the necessities of this transitional period," he said.

He was apparently referring to a violent campaign against his supporters in the past two years by hard-liners seeking to protect what they see as the core values of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The council members, elected in February as a direct result of Khatami's bid to introduce a civil society within the Islamic system, whistled and cheered the president, elected on May 23, 1997, in a surprise landslide over a conservative rival.

"Long Live Khatami," read a large white balloon fluttering over the crowd in the bright morning sunlight.

Hours after the president's remarks, a small group of hard- line youths attacked a rally of several thousand reformist students at a Tehran park, provoking scattered scuffles. Such attacks have become common at gatherings of Khatami's supporters or the liberal opposition.

The president said he was aiming for a future where all political organizations would be institutionalized within the framework of the constitution, a reference to the shadowy hard-line "pressure groups" that appear to enjoy hidden support among some conservatives. Attempts to rein in these groups or expose their backers have so far failed.

"No one should hide behind values and slogans. No one should see himself above the law. Everyone must conform to the law. The art of government is to ensure that such diverse views turn into identifiable institutions, with clear programs and stances, something they must take responsibility for," he said in a speech broadcast live on Tehran radio.

"We must try to show freedom is compatible with Islam. Don't think that Islam is against freedom," Khatami added.

The crowd, sometimes ignoring the revolutionary decorum, which prefers religious chants to clapping, repeatedly rose to applaud the president, as women dressed in traditional black Muslim shawls and holding the president's portraits shouted "Khatami, Khatami, we support you" and "Khatami, the hero, is the protector of world peace."

But the president, flanked by both reformist and conservative officials in a gesture of unity, gave warnings against excesses in the search for freedom, saying liberties would only be allowed within the framework of the supreme clerical rule established in Iran after the revolution.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the pillar of the clerical establishment, openly sided with the conservatives last week against any attempts by Khatami's government to ease the ban on satellite reception in line with his cultural thaw and to reduce clerical control over future elections.

But the leader, in remarks certain to please the president, spoke in favor of allowing more diverse political views in society, an opinion echoed by Khatami in his speech on Sunday.

"No one has a monopoly on freedom and Islam. We must accept the various tendencies and opinions which must come together under the regime," he said. "We must be careful excesses will not lead to a weakening of principles and values."

The second anniversary was used to promote the city, town and village councils, which are the centerpiece of Khatami's reform and aim to ease 2,500 years of centralized rule.

Khatami, winning the election with 70 percent of the popular vote against a hard-line rival, campaigned on promises to empower the people and loosen the authorities' hold on social, political and intellectual life.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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