Posted on 08/10/2009 6:33:17 PM PDT by nuconvert
TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tightened his grip on Iran’s powerful intelligence services, ousting four senior officials in a widening purge against authorities who challenged the harsh crackdowns after June’s disputed elections, lawmakers and media said Monday.
The shake-up at the Intelligence Ministry — the nation’s main spy agency — deepened the rifts straining Iran’s conservative ranks over Ahmadinejad’s strong-arm political tactics and the crushing response to the pro-reform opposition since the June 12 election.
It also sought to bolster Ahmadinejad allies in the Revolutionary Guard, which led the assaults and arrests against protesters who claimed the election was rigged. But now officials from other groups, including the police and judiciary, say abuses occurred and have called for investigations into the deaths and alleged torture
The latest purge was reportedly linked to the refusal of some top officials to back the government’s claims that the wave of protests were part of a “velvet revolution” aimed at overthrowing the Islamic leadership. Some in the ministry also had reportedly opposed broadcasting confessions by detainees that the opposition says were obtained by abuse.
The increasingly public disagreements have shattered the perception of high-level unity in the face of the postelection crisis and suggest Ahmadinejad’s political capital is shrinking as he moves to form his second-term government this week.
The Intelligence Ministry sweep came less than two weeks after Ahmadinejad angered conservatives by firing the intelligence minister, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, in an apparent dispute that reportedly included the handling of the clampdown on the unrest
(Excerpt) Read more at khaleejtimes.com ...
Leading up to a big blowout?
He didn’t even kill the purgees? That’s a second rate purge in my books.
Pong
He (Ahmadinejad) is believed to have fired at least four senior Intelligence Ministry figures in a move that deepens a rift between Mr Ahmadinejad and critics within his own conservative camp. It also reveals splits within the security establishment itself over the suppression of the pro-reform opposition since the June 12 election.
The Intelligence Ministry purge was reportedly sparked by the refusal of some top officials to back the government’s claims that the wave of post-election protests were part of an opposition “velvet revolution” aimed at overthrowing the clerical leadership. Some in the ministry had reportedly opposed broadcasting confessions by detainees that the opposition says were obtained by abuse.
Pro-reform websites reported that more than a dozen senior ministry officials were fired or forced to resign in the past few weeks, but the total number remained unclear.
Conservative and pro-reform media identified four deputy ministers who were removed, including the head of counter-espionage and a 25-year veteran, both of whom were “trusted” by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to one conservative website Khabaronline.
The purge appeared to reflect tensions between the ministry and the elite Revolutionary Guard, which has been the main force behind the wave of arrests. The dismissals were ordered by Mr Ahmadinejad, according to Hasan Younesi, son of a former intelligence minister.
“Ahmadinejad has effectively taken command of the country’s most important security body and is settling scores,” said Mr Younesi, whose father served as minister during the 1997-2005 pro-reform administration.
Both father and son maintain close links with the intelligence community. Mr Younesi said the dismissals targeted officials who did not support the government’s claims of a “velvet revolution” plot.
Ahmad Avai, a conservative politician, said parliament was also considering a probe into the dismissals. “There is justified concern ... if this trend continues, irreparable damage will be inflicted on the Intelligence Ministry,” Mr Avai said, according to the hard-line daily Jomhuri-e-Eslami.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6790445.ece
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