Iranian Cabinet Warns It Would Scrap Election

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAGPY5VWPD.html

Iranian Cabinet Warns It Would Scrap Election
By Ali Akbar Dareini
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's reform-minded Cabinet on Monday threatened to scrap upcoming parliamentary elections if the hard-line Guardian Council doesn't change course and allow hundreds of reformist candidates to run.

The warning deepened Iran's worst political crisis in years and raised the possibility of mass government resignations. The government can only stop an election by stepping down or sending a bill to parliament, which the Guardian Council would almost certainly veto.

"The government will continue its activities to help form conditions for fair, free and competitive elections," the Iranian Cabinet said in a statement. "Existence of competition is the main condition for holding the elections," it added. <snip>

He said President Mohammad Khatami, also a reformer, "is expected to seriously consider not holding the elections if things don't change." <snip>

AP-ES-01-26-04 1317EST

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