TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran's reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday accused his successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of increasing poverty, in a keenly-awaited speech to hundreds of students at Tehran University. Speaking to a packed hall of more than 1,000 students, Khatami blasted the government's favoured slogan of bringing economic "justice" to Iran, saying the country's priorities went beyond this.| Let's all remember that 'reformist' and 'moderate' in Iran mean something different than they do in the West. Ditto for 'justice'. |
| Also "up," "down," "in," "out," "love," "honor," "truth," and "beauty." |
His comments were a thinly-veiled attack on the government's policy of ploughing money into local infrastructure projects and handing out loans which reformists see as a menace to long-term economic development. "We need to fight for economic justice but what is more important is the right of people to decide their own fate. These are the reforms that the people want," said Khatami.
Witnesses said crowds of people unable to find places gathered outside and the students shouted slogans in favour of Khatami.