TEHRAN, (Reuters) – A leading Iranian reformer accused hardliners of taking a “fascist” approach, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s new cabinet prepared to hold its first meeting after his disputed re-election in June.
The hard-hitting comment by former President Mohammad Khatami was a further sign that the moderate opposition would try to keep up protests over an election it says was rigged.
Parliament approved most of Ahmadinejad’s government ministers three days ago in a move that bolstered his position after nearly three months of political turmoil.
The government was due to meet for the first time last evening in the northeastern city of Mashhad, site of Shi’ite Iran’s holiest shrine.
The presidential poll, which was followed by huge opposition demonstrations, plunged Iran into its deepest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution and exposed rifts within its ruling clerical and political elites.
The authorities reject charges the vote was fraudulent.
