| Iran president: No rift with supreme leader |
| Written by NASSER KARIMI (AP) | ||
| Friday, 31 July 2009 15:11 | ||
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The bitter feud with conservatives has shaken Ahmadinejad's government at a time when he is already trying to fend off a major challenge from the other end of the political spectrum — the pro-reform opposition, which says his victory in June 12 presidential elections was fraudulent and that his government is illegitimate. Conservatives have cast doubt on Ahmadinejad's loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because of a dispute over a controversial vice president Ahmadinejad appointed two weeks ago. Hard-liners were outraged by the appointment of Esfandiar Rahim Mashai because he once made comments saying Iranians and Israelis were friends. Khamenei ordered the dismissal of the vice president, but Ahmadinejad stalled for days, trying to keep Mashai, who is his in-law and a close associate. His defiance further goaded hard-liners. The president finally obeyed the dismissal order, but he promptly appointed Mashai as his chief of staff. In a speech Friday in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Ahmadinejad said "some in recent days have portrayed the relationship between the leader and the administration as in doubt, they tried to imply distance and rift." |
TEHRAN, Iran — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at critics within his own hard-line camp on Friday, denying any rift with Iran's supreme leader, who he said was like a father.