Iranian reformist MP charged over poll

Hardliners oppose restoring relations with the US

By Jim Muir BBC correspondent, Tehran

A court in Tehran has charged a senior reformist official with misuse of public funds, in what is seen as the latest twist in the ongoing struggle between Iranian reformists and hardliners.

The accused, Ahmad Borghani, is a prominent member of parliament.

Khatami is at the centre of a power struggle with conservatives

The charges are in connection with one of several polling institutions which were closed down after reporting that a majority of Iranians favour restoring relations with the United States.

Mr Borghani was one of the architects of President Mohammad Khatami's surprise landslide victory in 1997.

After that, he was one of a squad of reformist politicians who swept the board in general elections in the year 2000.

A member of the Majlis Presiding Board, he is one of the most active figures trying to push the reform agenda in the legislature.

Funds 'misused'

The case against him goes back four years, to when he was deputy minister for culture.

He is accused of misusing public funds by diverting a sum equivalent to $25,000 to an opinion research organisation established under the ministry's wing.

Khamenei defused a crisis in parliament

The polling house was shut down recently after reporting that 75% of those canvassed favoured opening a dialogue with the United States.

Mr Borghani has already been questioned four times in court.

Now he has been formally charged, released on bail and is to appear in court again on Saturday.

If he should be convicted and jailed, uproar is certain to ensue within the reformist-dominated parliament.

A year ago, the conviction and jailing of another reformist deputy, for public remarks he made, prompted the speaker of parliament to stage a walk-out and go on strike until the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, intervened to pardon and release the jailed MP.

Polls crackdown

The opinion poll prosecutions are one of the current main battlefields between the reformists and hardliners who dominate the judiciary.

Abdi said he had made a mistake

In a related case, another leading reformist figure, Abbas Abdi and others are accused of selling classified information to foreigners, by conducting polls for foreign embassies or outside organisations.

In a court appearance last week, Mr Abdi expressed regret for, what he said were, mistakes he had made.

His reformist comrades were dismayed at the confession, saying it had been extorted after a long period in solitary confinement.

While reformists accuse the hardliners of launching a politically-motivated witch hunt over the polls, hardliners themselves have used the affair to call for the dissolution of the main reformist party.