Former Teheran mayor may run against Khatami, reports
paper
September 7, 2000 Teheran (dpa) - Former Teheran Mayor Gholam-Hussein
Karbaschi may run against Mohammad Khatami in presidential elections scheduled
for next May, the Teheran daily Entekhab reported Thursday.
The daily quoted informed sources in parliament as saying that the moderate
G6 faction is considering Karbaschi as a suitable candidate to run against
Khatami.
Karbaschi, a symbol of Iran 's new technocratic generation, was dismissed
in 1998 as mayor after a highly controversial embezzlement trial which
moderates branded as a politically motivated move by traditional clergy
of the conservative opposition.
Karbaschi also served nine months out of his thirty month prison term
and was eventually released from prison last January. Since then he has
worked with the G6 party which is headed by former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani.
The moderate G6 is coalition partner of the neo-leftists in Khatami's
government.
The conservative opposition is reportedly planning to introduce former
Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati as its top candidate. Velayati is currently
serving as foreign policy advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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