The MIRO says it will support Reformist Iranian presidential candidate Mohammad Khatami for re-election.

"MIRO will support Khatami in the 10th presidential elections in Iran," Fars News Agency quoted the spokesman of the Sazman-e Mojahedin-e Enghelab-e Eslami (MIRO), Mohsen Armin, as saying on Monday.

Known as their strongest card, Khatami had been under pressure from Reformists to run long before he announced his candidacy. President of Iran from 1997 to 2005, Khatami on February 8 officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections.

MIRO Secretary General Mohammad Salamati also commented on the issue on Monday, saying that Khatami's security should be ensured and his life should be guarded.

Salamati made his remarks after an article by prominent Principlist newspaper Kayhan cautioned that Khatami could share the fate of late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto by "becoming a plaything in the hands of the US and extremist Reformists".

The article was taken as a suggestion that Khatami may be murdered. Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack on December 27, 2007.

Salamati warned against the result of "character assassination" during the June elections, saying, "It will harm the Islamic Revolution and destroy confidence in the nation."

During his two terms, Khatami promulgated the idea that he would bring political and social change. His critics have not remained silent concerning his inability to implement his proposals.

Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to enter the presidential race for re-election in a face-off with Khatami and an additional Reformist candidate, Mehdi Karroubi.

... Payvand News - 02/25/09 ... --

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