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Khatami Criticizes Defamation of Presidential Candidates
Iran's pro-reform President Mohammad Khatami on Sunday criticized defamation of any candidates in the eighth presidential elections slated for June 8, the IRNA news agency reported.
Mohsen Rezaie, a top Iranian conservative and former commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, released an open letter on Thursday accusing the reformist camp of waging a campaign of " systematic destruction" against potential rivals for the June 8 polls. He also blasted Khatami's silence over whether he intends to stand for a second term.
Speaking at a gathering of heads of city and district councils, Khatami invited all people, officials and mass media in the country not to defame even a single candidate in the upcoming elections.
He called on the interior minister and governors general of provinces as well as other executives to pave the way for legitimate and logical activities of all presidential candidates from every corner of the country.
Priority should be given to those who have so far not been in a position to adequately make use of existing public platforms, Khatami said, adding that all presidential candidates should be able to make contact with people in a calm and secure atmosphere.
He also warned executive officials not to side with any of the presidential candidates.
Khatami's agenda of liberalizing reforms helped sweep him to office in 1997 with nearly 70 percent of the popular vote. But reforms have since been stymied by conservatives who control key state institutions such as the courts and police.
Like all other presidential hopefuls, Khatami has to declare his candidacy for reelection before May 6.
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