Iran's Khatami banned from holding campaign rally
( 2001-05-27 10:25) (7)
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has been banned from holding a re-election campaign rally, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.
The agency, quoting a source in Khatami's campaign headquarters, said the judiciary had ordered police to stop the event, which was due to take place on Monday in Tehran's Shiroudi stadium.
The judiciary said its ruling was due to a ban on the use of government property for campaigning by the 10 candidates running for the June 8 presidential election.
Presidential aide Mohammad Ali Abtahi had earlier said Monday's gathering would be the only mass rally to be held by Khatami to speak to his supporters.
The president and his rivals have been given an equal amount of time to speak on state radio and television.
Judicial officials have said the tough campaign rules are there to ensure a fair election.
A judge on Friday ordered the removal of all campaign banners belonging to conservative candidate Abdollah Jasbi.
Under Iran's election laws, candidates can only display small black and white pictures of themselves in public.
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