He also told them that they needed to be sincere in their work if they wanted to maintain the trust of the people.

The following is President Khatami's statement broadcast on Iranian TV at 1030 GMT on Wednesday 6 January:

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. My dear sisters and brothers, and precious children of Islam and Iran: May God bless all of you, the unknown warriors and contented guardians of the Islamic revolution and our dear homeland.

The country owes its honour, security and independence to the round-the-clock efforts of those people who forget themselves to please God.

And among them the Information Ministry (Iran's security service) and its noble and selfless employees have created great epics in their services to defend and safeguard the revolution, the homeland and our people.

Thanks to your endeavour and selfless efforts, the system and the people have escaped many grave dangers, and golden opportunities have been created to accelerate the country's progress and to increase its honour.

Trust and sincerity

You are the support on which the country's and the people's trust, strength and freedom rest.

And it is natural that ill-wishers would like to see a shaky and incompetent Information Ministry in our country.

However, the developments of the past few days demonstrated that the Information Ministry is alive and alert, and that its mighty structure is capable of removing any sick cell and alien member promptly and vigorously.

I have no doubt that your appropriate action in the identification and neutralization of this affair will increase the nation's trust in the Information Ministry and its employees' capability, efficiency and vigilance.

This shows that the dedicated and valuable staff of the Information Ministry should not be influenced or lose self-confidence in the face of harmful insinuations and misunderstandings, which undoubtedly have a very short life in society.

The people's trust is the main asset for all of us; and the biggest factor responsible for maintaining this trust is sincerity.

And you, as the most sincere and the most loyal forces of the Islamic revolution, should realize that the country's true security depends on your sincere approach to the people.

Go forward with all your might to safeguard the national Islamic honour, by relying on his outstanding experience and on the support of the leadership, the government and the nation.

God will assist all its pious slaves.