Targeted by reformists. Khamenei
Photo: AP
Iranians riot over disputed election results
Photo: Faramarz Hashemi
Iranian reformists: Limit Khamenei's power
Sources tell Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reformist camp leading move aimed at 'limiting Supreme Leader's absolute power, have him answer to Assembly of Experts'
The Iranian reformist camp is looking to limit Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's power amid the continued violence in the country over the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian sources told the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
Turning Point?
Al-Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is considered Iranian regime's No. 2, met with Assembly of Experts responsible for monitoring Supreme Leader Khamenei in attempt to 'protect regime from dangers'
In the report, published Thursday, one of the sources was quoted as saying that the "reformist alliance," including defeated presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, as well as a number of religious leaders from the city of Qom, were leading a move aimed at "limiting the absolute power of the Supreme Leader."
According to the source, Rafsanjani, who currently heads the Assembly of Experts, returned to Tehran on Wednesday after consulting with religious leaders in the holy city of Qom on the possibility of limiting Khamenei's power by having him answer to the Assembly.
"There are demands that the Supreme Leader will oversee the regime without being its supreme commander," the source told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, adding that the current crisis has already weakened Khamenei.
The paper further reported that Moscow has denied that President Dmitry Medvedev sent Ahmadinejad a letter congratulating him on his elections victory.
