AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: 'Moderate' former president steps down as head of state body, a move which seems to tighten hardliners' grip on power.Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former Iranian president and opposition member, has lost his position as head of an important state clerical body after being criticised by hardliners for being too close to the reformist opposition.
Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, 80, was elected as the new chairman of the Assembly of Experts on Tuesday, after Rafsanjani withdrew his candidacy, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Rafsanjani had chaired the 86-member body - which selects the supreme leader, supervises his activities and can dismiss him - since 2007.
"Sixty-three members out of 81 cast vote and voted for Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani who was the only candidate for the chairmanship of the assembly," Ahmad Khatami, a member of the presiding board of the assembly was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.
Rafsanjani declined to make a fresh bid for the post he had held for four years after Mahdavi Kani declared his intention.
"I announce that if Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani is ready to take the responsibility of the Assembly of Experts, I will not run for the post," Rafsanjani was quoted by the Fars news agency as telling the assembly. >>> Source: Agencies | Tuesday, March 08, 2011
