Mohammad Khatami

The conservative victory denies liberals an important forum to challenge hard-liners' policies and appointees who have final say in almost all affairs, and leaves reformist President Mohammad Khatami without a key source of support in his drive to ease social and political restrictions.

The election results were expected before the . 20e. Reformers widely boycotted the election after more than 2,400 liberal candidates were banned from running by the hard-line Guardian Council.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 28, 2004
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