Iran

[Shahab3]

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Conservative presidential candidate attacked

LONDON,May 5 (IranMania) - One of the main conservative contenders to become Iran's next president has come under heavy fire for his alleged past support of the repression of pro-democracy protests and an ongoing media crackdown.

In a virulent attack quoted by the press Wednesday, the spokesman for Iran's reformist government recalled that Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was one of several top commanders in the hardline Revolutionary Guards who in July 1999 had written an open letter to denounce student-led protests.

In the letter, the commanders warned their "patience was at an end" and urged the government of President Mohammad Khatami to act against pro-democracy demonstrators.

The protest were eventually halted by a violent crackdown and widespread arrests.

"It is an honour for the Khatami government that those who had written saying their patience was at an end ... are today wearing slick suits and supporting progress through reforms," Abdollah Ramazanzadeh said in an unprecedented personal swipe at Qalibaf.
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Schade, dass diese lebhaften Diskussion bzw offenen Auseinandersetzungen der versch. Blöcke meist nicht wahrgenommen werden...