Supreme Leader Calls for Unity in Government

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on all branches of government to work together, an apparent reference to the growing rift between the hard-line judiciary and reformist-dominated parliament over the jailing of lawmakers.

Reformist lawmakers, supporters of President Mohammad Khatami’s drive for more freedoms, appealed to Khamenei last week to stop the hard-line courts and security apparatus from prosecuting and jailing their colleagues.

Khamenei did not comment directly on the crisis. He appeared to be seeking a balance in the government even though he has sided mostly with hard-liners in the past.