Judiciary chief warns against politicising election
TEHRAN, March 5 (AFP) - The hardline chief of Iran's judiciary warned
Friday aganist politicising the results of last week's first-ever municipal
elections, a runaway victory for reformers in the Islamic republic.
"You were elected as local officials and should concern yourselves
with local problems, and keep out of factional and partisan disputes,"
said Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi during weekly prayers at Tehran university.
Yazdi, speaking with his ever-present Kalashnikov rifle in hand, called
on the newly elected officials to concentrate "only on the interests
of their constituencies."
``Think of your town's or village's interest ... I'm speaking to you
gentlemen and ladies who think you are so successful and important...don't
think you're the president now and can say and do anything you like,''
he said.
Reformers close to moderate President Mohammad Khatami won handily in
the elctions, following a bitter campaign that highlighted the split between
conservatives and reformers in the Islamic republic.
Reformers are well ahead in the balloting in the capital and seem poised
to win all 15 seats on the Tehran council when the count is completed here.
They also made strong gains in almost all major cities, including Isfahan,
Mashhad and Shiraz.
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