Top Iran opposition leader recognizes Ahmadinejad as government head in major shift
By APMonday, January 25, 2010
Iran opposition leader recognizes Ahmadinejad
TEHRAN, Iran — The son of a top Iranian opposition leader says his father now recognizes Iran’s president as the head of the government, while still maintaining that his June re-election was fraudulent.
Mahdi Karroubi’s son Hossein said Monday that his father now recognizes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad despite the fraud in the election.
Karroubi’s new position is a major retreat from his earlier fiery denunciations of Ahmadinejad’s government as illegitimate. The move could signal an attempt to reach a settlement with the clerics within the ruling system.
He has refrained from describing Ahmadinejad as “president,” however, in order not to give full legitimacy.
The opposition says at least 80 protesters have been killed in the postelection turmoil.
