Iran purges Intelligence Ministry officials

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

TEHRAN, Iran---- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has fired at least four senior Intelligence Ministry figures in a purge targeting officials who disagreed with the crackdown on the opposition after last month's disputed presidential election, lawmakers and media said Monday.

The dismissals came after Ahmadinejad fired his intelligence minister, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, late last month and marked a strengthening of the president's hold on the powerful ministry. Ahmadinejad has served as temporary caretaker of the ministry pending the formation of his new government, expected within days.

Ahmad Avai, a conservative lawmaker, accused Ahmadinejad of "settling scores" against officials he considers insufficiently loyal. Avai was quoted in several Iranian newspapers Monday saying parliament was considering a probe into the dismissals.

Iran is holding its biggest political trial in decades, trying around 100 people -- including many top politicians from the pro-reform opposition -- on charges they plotted to overthrow the government through a "velvet revolution" using massive street protests following the June 12 election. Several top defendants have made televised confessions to the plot during the trial. The opposition says the confessions were forced.

In the purge, four deputy intelligence ministers were removed because they didn't support the government's claims of a "velvet revolution" plot, Hasan Younesi, son of former intelligence minister Ali Younesi, said in a statement on his personal Web site. Ali Younesi served as minister during the 1997-2006 pro-reform administration, and both he and his son maintain close links with the intelligence community.

"Ahmadinejad has effectively taken command of the most country's most important security body and is settling scores," Hasan Younesi said.

Several news Web sites, including one close to conservatives, Khabaronline, also reported the dismissals.

The purge is likely to heighten disputes between Ahmadinejad and his own conservative camp, where many have accused him of keeping power to a small circle of associates. Ejehi's dismissal in late July brought a storm of criticism from conservative circles.

Ejehi's removal appeared to be in part because of his criticism of Ahmadinejad's attempt to name a controversial aide as vice president. But there were signs of differences between them over the postelection crackdown as well. A conservative Web site supporting Ahmadinejad said recently that the president was unhappy with the Intelligence Ministry's performance over the postelection riots and that Ejehi had resisted Ahmadinejad's pressure for a purge.

Pro-reform Web sites have also reported that the ministry opposed attempts to broadcast confessions by those arrested in the postelection crackdown amid increasing calls by hard-liners for them to be aired.