The Iranian President, Mohammed Khatami, has told university students to be patient and tolerant in the face of reactionary tendencies.

Speaking at Teheran's Sharif Technical University, he defended the universities' political role.

He said those who urged the universities to refrain from politics in the name of the Islamic revolution, were counter rveolutionaries.

But he warned students against violence, urging them to stay on the path of dialogue.

Mr Khatami also faced sharp questioning from the students about press freedom, the stateof the economy and political reforms.

The session was broadcast on Iranian radio.