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Khatami win seen as vote for reform, but no major changes foreseen

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, June 11, 2001

NICOSIA Ñ Iranian President Mohammed Khatami has won reelection in a landslide victory.

"People voted again for reforms with awareness," parliamentarian Ali Shakourirad, regarded as a supporter of Khatami, said. "They made it clear exactly what course they want for the country. The people are, in effect, demanding that opponents of reforms stop their opposition and let Khatami do his job."

Aides said Khatami intended to institute a major sweep in the government. But Western officials did not expect Khatami to implement any major changes in Iranian policy.

Khatami was officially declared the winner in a race against nine challengers. Elections results gave Khatami more than 77 percent of the vote.

Coming in second was former Labor Minister Ahmad Tavakoli, a supporter of the Iranian conservative clergy who obtained about 15 percent of the vote. In third place was Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, with about three percent.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Congress is already considering legislation to maintain sanctions on both Iran and Libya. The Bush administration supports the continuation of sanctions on Teheran. But administration officials have urged congressional leaders for a two-year extension. The Iranian-Libyan Sanctions Act, to expire in August, was signed into law in 1996.

The extension of the bill has been cosponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Sen. Gordon Smith, a Republican from Oregon. The bill would extend sanctions for up to five years.

"We've been in contact with the Hill," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We've had consultations with members of Congress about the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. It is an important issue that's coming up, and we've been talking about it with people on the Hill. At this point, I don't think I can go beyond that."

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