One of the most influential clerics in Iran who was once the designated successor of Ayatollah Khomeini has denounced the way that Iran is being run.

Ayatollah Montazeri, who is under house arrest, accused conservatives of trying to monopolise power.

In an interview conducted with a British newspaper the Guardian by fax from his home in the holy city of Qom, Ayatollah Montazeri specifically criticised the current supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei.

He said the Ayatollah could never be above the law; he should be open to public criticism and be held accountable for his actions.

The BBC Teheran correspondent says the Ayatollah's criticisms are timely as Iran prepares for general elections next month in which reformists are hoping to win control of parliament. Ayatollah Montazeri criticised the role played by the conservative-dominated Council of Guardians, which has disqualified dozens of reformist candidates in the elections.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service