Khatami warns of an organised dirty tricks campaign
Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) Iran's president has warned of an organised dirty tricks campaign to disrupt the presidential election, official media said.
Mr Khatami, who is not running for re-election, did not name anyone, but some candidates have complained about a campaign that includes smear tactics and physical assaults.
In a letter addressed to the Interior and Intelligence Ministers, Khatami said: "I see with regret and worry from the reports that it seems there is an organised movement to hurt and to harm the healthy and the glorious process of the elections."
In the letter, he complained about "disruption of gatherings, beatings, illegal pamphlets and spreading lies to ruin candidates' reputations regardless of political inclination".
Front-runner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and reformist candidate Mostafa Moin also denounced attacks against their campaign officials and activists. Both pointed the finger at a smear campaign against them.
"I cannot stand still over the destructive trend that will hurt citizens' rights and the safety of the elections," Khatami said.
He called on the two ministries to "identify the elements of this organised movement and to confront them".
Mr Khatami stressed however that the attempts to disrupt the country's elections and the recent bomb attacks that claimed the lives of eight to ten people won't affect the "people's judgment and their will to take part in the election."
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27/04/2005
