| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| In Leader approval, Ahmadinejad warned over critics |
| 2009-08-04 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] As certain political figures join opposition in rejecting the disputed election results, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution strongly backs the president for a second term, but urges him to heed the views of his "critics." In a step leading up to his inauguration in Parliament, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday threw his weight behind President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, describing him as "courageous, astute and hardworking." The Leader added that his endorsement and the people's vote remains in place only until President Ahmadinejad stays "on the right path." The endorsement decrees are normally read by the previous president -- even for the second term of the new president in office. However, the ceremony took place in the absent of defeated candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, along with powerful cleric and official Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and former President Mohammad Khatami. There were also no representatives present from the family of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The development against a backdrop of political trials comes as Ahmadinejad's much-disputed re-election in June was met with an outpouring of anger demonstrated in mass protests across the country, with demonstrators dubbing the poll as rigged. At least 30 people were killed and thousands, including prominent Reformists and journalists, were rounded up in the course of the protests staged by supporters of the opposition who dismiss the official election result as "fraudulent" and call for its annulment. With leading opposition figures Mousavi, Khatami and Karroubi refusing to acknowledge Ahmadinejad's presidency, the incumbent's re-election provoked bickering in the country's political circles. Among the opposing voices was Hashemi-Rafsanjani who at the Friday prayers at Tehran University on July 17 hit out at the government for its mishandling of the controversy over the election. Rafsanjani, who heads both the top political arbitration body and the clerical body, suggested that failing to listen to the voice of those who are dissatisfied with the election result had disrupted the national unity and shattered the nation's trust in the establishment. "Doubt has been created," he said. "There are two currents; one has no doubt and is moving ahead. And the other is a large portion of the wise people who say they have doubts. We need to take action to remove this doubt." On the issue, Ayatollah Khamenei said in the aftermath of the election, "the majority of people and political figures" acted responsibly. The Leader, however, added that "some elites" had failed to do so in accordance with their responsibilities. "Those who talk of the nation's distrust do so either out of spite or out of negligence." Giving his views on the social side-takings which have taken place following the vote, Ayatollah Khamenei broke down the nation into three groups; a large portion who support the president, "the angry, wounded opposition" and "critics who have no enmity with the establishment and the president." The Leader cautioned President Ahmadinejad that the angry crowd would continue their opposition and challenge his government during his next 4 years in office. Ayatollah Khamenei, meanwhile, insisted that the views of the critics "should be given much reflection." The president, who enjoyed windfall oil revenues in his first term, has been severely criticized over mismanaging the economy and stoking inflation. The Leader also called for full support of those who underwent sufferings in the aftermath of the June 12 presidential election, adding that those who brought about the sufferings should be "identified and taken to task." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 but urges him to heed the views of his "critics." These people really don't have the slightest clue, do they? Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2009-08-04 11:51 |