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Reforms not to be at Islam's expense: Khatami

TEHRAN: President Mohammad Khatami said on Saturday that the social and political reforms he started will not come at the expense of Islam, and it doesn't matter "what others say or want."

The reforms are "part of the essence" of the 1979 Islamic revolution that installed the clergy's rule in Iran, the president said.

Khatami's remarks to Foreign Ministry officials came as his allies took firm control of parliament after the final count in the Feb. 18 elections was announced on Saturday.

Khatami said the Islamic revolution "is introducing an Islam in which the people enjoy freedom. "At the same time, Iran is committed to the revolution, he said, adding that "reforms never mean giving up principles."

"Reforms are moves to war materialisation of the demands of the Islamic revolution. It is not important what others say or want," he said.

According to final results, Khatami's allies, campaigning on a platform to boost his programme, won 170 seats in the 290-seat parliament. Hard-liners and conservatives won 45 and independents 10, the remaining 65 seats will be decided in run-offs in April.

In the crucial district of Tehran, reformists led by Khatami's younger brother, Mohammadreza Khatami, won 29 of the 30 seats.

Khatami was the highest vote-getter, followed by Jamileh Kadivar, a popular columnist. The third-highest was Alireza Nouri, who has called for a national referendum to decide whether to open a dialogue with the United States. Nouri's brother, Abdollah, is another prominent dissident.

Former President Hashemi Rafsanjani secured the 30th place in Tehran with the least number of votes among the winning candidates.

Once considered a moderate, Rafsanjani has increasingly been identified as a conservative.