Mohammad Khatami

The resignations marked a significant escalation of Iran's worst political crisis in years, which was sparked by the hardline Guardian Council's decision to bar more than 2,000 aspiring candidates from running in the election.

Reformist allies of President Mohammad Khatami accuse unelected hardliners, who have used their sweeping powers to block most reform efforts, of carrying out a grab for power.

Reformists won around 190 of Parliament's 290 seats in a 2000 election. Those barred last month include more than 80 reformist deputies.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 7, 2004
(C) All rights reserved