Power Struggle Grows Over Inauguration Delay
Fears of a national crisis grew after hard-liners delayed the swearing-in of Iran’s reformist president, Mohammad Khatami. At the heart of the dispute is a fight for control of the powerful Guardian Council, seen as one of conservatives’ last strongholds.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, ordered an arbitration council to intervene in the row over nominations for seats on the powerful council, which can veto legislation by Iran’s reformist parliament.
The arbitration body, called the Expediency Council, will meet today, Iranian TV said.
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