Iran's conservatives maintain hold on key electoral
council
TEHRAN, Feb 23 (AFP) - Iran's conservatives demonstrated their continuing
stranglehold on one of the Islamic Republic's key institutions Tuesday
with the reelection of conservative cleric Ali Meshkini to the chairmanship
of the Council of Experts.
Meshkini, 74, was reelected by 66 votes out of 85 at the council's
first full session since nationwide elections last October, the official
news agency IRNA reported.
Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Ayatollah Ali Amini won
election with 75 and 59 votes respectively to serve as vice chairmen of
the council, which is responsible for electing and, if need be, dismissing
the country's supreme leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hojatoleslam Qorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi, who resigned as intelligence
minister earlier this month after his ministry's shock admission that "rogue"
agents were involved in a string of brutal murders of dissidents late last
year, was elected as secretary.
The conservatives swept October's elections to the council after many
reformist candidates were disqualified, prompting criticism from moderate
President Mohammed Khatami and calls for a boycott from his more radical
supporters.
The council, whose membership is restricted to the Shiite Moslem clergy,
is elected in nationwide elections every eight years. Its officers are
elected for two year terms.
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