DATE=11/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NOURI / IRAN L-ONLY
NUMBER=2-256082
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Conservatives in Iran have dealt another blow 
to the nation's reformist movement, after a special 
jury paved the way for the conviction of one of Iran's 
leading moderates.  As Richard Engel reports, Iran's 
former Interior Minister Abdullah Nouri may be barred 
from participating in upcoming Iranian elections.

TEXT:  Iran's official news agency reports a jury of 
hard-liners at a Special Clerical Court recommended 
that Mr. Nouri be found guilty of 15 unspecified 
counts of religious and political dissent. 

The jury recommended acquitting Mr. Nouri of five 
other counts.

The jury delivered the decision to the court's judges 
who will issue a final verdict.  Iranian radio said 
that the court would take the jury's findings into 
consideration when it determines the verdict.

If found guilty, Mr. Nouri, who is one of Iran's most 
popular reformists, would be banned from taking part 
in February's parliamentary elections and could face a 
long prison term.

Mr. Nouri has been given eight days to submit his 
final written defense.

The jury's recommendation ends the public portion Mr. 
Nouri's trial, which has gripped Iran. 

The charges against Mr. Nouri stem from articles 
published in the Khordad newspaper, a publication he 
managed last year after Iran's conservative parliament 
forced him to resign as interior minister. 

A 44-page indictment accused Mr. Nouri of using 
Khordad to slander the Iranian government, publish 
irreligious articles and distort the vision of the 
Islamic republic as laid out by the late Ayatollah 
Khomeini.

During his defense, Mr. Nouri lashed out at the court, 
saying it was trying to keep him out of office. He 
also used the trial as a platform to further air his 
controversial views that Iran should consider 
improving relations with the United States and reduce 
the amount of power wielded by Iran's clergy.

Mr. Nouri is a staunch supporter of Iran's moderate 
President Mohammed Khatami.  Analysts say his trial is 
part of an on-going battle between reformists and 
hard-liners in Iran for real control of the nation.

Mr. Nouri has predicted his own conviction, likening 
the trial to the Spanish Inquisition. 

Analysts say many reformists had hoped Mr. Nouri would 
be Iran's next speaker of parliament, something which
may  no  longer be possible.  (Signed)

NEB/RHE/JWH/JO



12-Nov-1999 09:31 AM EDT (12-Nov-1999 1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.