Khatami, it may be recalled, won on his promise "to build a civil society, promote social and individual freedoms within the framework of law, equality and accountability in high places," noted the English-language daily in its Perspective column.

Setting his sights on a more open society, the paper noted, further elevated Khatami into a global figure. His ideals became policies and his policies obtained a longer lease of life in his reelection victory in 2001. Khatami, emerging triumphant from many frustrations, renewed his commitment to working for a dynamic civil society.

But the burning question is: What mechanism did Khatami have in mind to implement his plan of action? Were there any guarantees for their execution?, asked the daily.

It must also be asked whether the president did anticipate the kind of opposition that he now faces and prepared alternative plans to realize his commitment and move his agenda forward, the paper believes.

To get a better insight into some important issues, it is essential to verify the following point, the paper suggested.

After an extended silence, last week's announcement by Khatami that the twin bills intended to enhance presidential powers and introduce changes in the controversial election law (both rejected by the supervisory Guardians Council) leave no room for the people to decide freely nor for the president to perform shows his increasing frustration and inability to move things, the daily wrote.

"The primary assumption is that the president obviously cannot fulfill his declared objectives which have now taken the form and shape of national urgencies without the latitude he has demanded," the daily added.

The question is, what has Khatami done since after the Guardians Council refused to accede to what he had been clamoring for?

"If the twin proposals are eventually killed despite the marathon negotiations and lobbying with the (Council), what will be the president's response?" the paper further questioned.

"This is a very sensitive matter in as much as it shows the depth of the president's commitment and determination," the paper believes.

The bottomline is that Khatami should present a report "on the six years of performance of his reformist government to clarify what obstacles he has encountered since taking office and what has been done to remove them," the daily urged.

Undoubtedly, Khatami and his colleagues cannot be accused of failing to deliver the goods, the paper said.

However, a greater service will be done to the public if the president reports to the people in a more transparent manner as he had promised in the summer of 1997 and thereby appease his accusers, the daily concluded.