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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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