TEHRAN - Iranian parliament speaker Mehdi Karubi on Tuesday called for an end to two days of conservative rallies outside the legislature to show their support for the banning of a motion to liberalize the press.

Demonstrators, who first gathered outside the legislature late Sunday night, have been calling for the expulsion of those MPs who reacted angrily to Khamenei's decree, sparking a brawl on the floor of the chamber.

"The pro-American reformists and MPs hostile to the supreme guide must be expelled from parliament," protesters chanted Tuesday.

"There is no place in parliament for these hypocrites," they added, using a term generally employed for the Mujahedeen opposition movement.

The head of Iran's parliamentary commission for culture, Ahmad Pour-Nejati, resigned his post Tuesday to protest against recent conservative-led attacks against pro-reformers and press.
 

Dangerous Tension, Associated Press, August 8

TEHRAN - Hard-liners protesting outside parliament called on Tuesday for the death and expulsion of reformists who dared challenge an order from Iran's supreme leader that squelched debate on easing the country's restrictive press law.

"Traitor Rashidian must be executed!'' the protesters shouted.

The hard-liners called for Rashidian's blood because in his arguments in parliament broadcast live on national radio Sunday, he referred to Khamenei as Mr. Khamenei without the title ayatollah, and implied that the religious leader was not acting in accordance with Islamic law.
 

Divisions Widen in an Unknown Territory, The Financial Times, August 8

In addition to undermining the reformist agenda, it raises doubts about the close relationship that has developed between the president and the supreme leader.

"We are now in unknown territory, and the divisions between reformists and conservatives have widened," says a diplomat. "Clearly the supreme leader has come under great pressure from the conservative establishment but this is the first time that he expresses his position clearly and does not try to appear impartial."

Reformists suspect that the resulting press crackdown was partly inspired by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president and now head of the Expediency Council, a powerful state body that can block legislation in parliament. Mr Rafsanjani was the conservatives' top candidate in the February parliamentary elections but he suffered a humiliating setback and was ridiculed by the press when he came last on the elected list in Tehran.

Mr. Khamenei, under increased pressure from conservatives, including Mr Rafsanjani, has been enlisted in the press war. He seemed to sanction the crackdown in the spring when he declared that some elements of the press had become "bases for the enemy."…

"Khatami has a habit of not saying anything in times like these but there are only so many times that he can remain silent without risking a loss in support," says a diplomat.
 

Iranian Court Closes Last Major Pro-Khatami Daily, Reuters, August 8

TEHRAN - Iran's Press Court on Tuesday closed Bahar daily, the last major pro-Khatami newspaper still publishing amid a hard-line crackdown on the independent media, journalists said.

They said the newspaper, published by a close aide to Mohammad Khatami, had been suspended pending trial. The order was sent by fax to halt publication immediately.
 

Still Banging On That Door, The Economist, August 4

He is the symbol of the reform movement, but can Muhammad Khatami bring about a fundamental change in Iran?

A great orator, the president is now being ridiculed for talking so much and so fluently but never getting anything done.

People have begun to wonder whether exposed toenail polish and "bad hejab" (a scarf loosely fastened to reveal bits of a woman's hair) will be the most concrete achievements to materialize from the dream of political pluralism and religious flexibility.

The president announced on July 27th that he would be running for re-election next May. This was premature. But Mr Khatami delivered the news early, probably to boost his ailing reform movement.

The reformers still find themselves banging on the door to get inside the power structure…

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