Ayatollah warns Iranians there is no freedom after all

NICOSIA [MENL] -- One of Iran's chief cleric has warned that those who write anything construed as being against Islamic tenets will be arrested and prosecuted.

Mohammed Yazdi, chief of the judiciary and one of the nation's leading ayatollah's, warned Iranians not be fooled by recent municipal elections in which supporters of President Mohammed Khatami won posts around the country.

"There is no freedom for you to write and say anything you like," he said in a holiday sermon. "Our people do not want such freedom if it is against the tenets of Islam."

Yazdi said Iranian liberals will not be protected from prosecution regardless of international support. He said Iranian authorities remain under the supervision of religious authorities.

"Don't come out tomorrow and ask why you were not warned in advance," he said. "Don't cry out when we arrest someone."

In his Iranian New Year speech on March 21, Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali warned against what he termed foreign plots to undermine the Islamic regime. He complained about U.S. calls for greater freedom in Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in her Iranian New Year message said she hoped Teheran and Washington would continue to improve relations. "We look forward to building on this dialogue in the coming year, for it enriches both our societies and increases mutual understanding and respect," Albright said.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Iranian service said Albright's message was not reported in Iran.