Khatami's followers prepare to form new party

Political circles in Iran said that the followers of President Mohammed Khatami will announce soon the formation of a political party to support the president, to be named the "Participation Front."

The political circles said that the program of the new party will focus on the main directions in Khatami's policies in an attempt to concentrate on the new alliance formed to support former President Hashimi Rafsanjani and his followers, adding that Khatami's followers are working on consolidating the wide public base which supports the president.

Iranian Minister of Interior Abdul Wahed Moswi Lari announced that one million candidates will compete for 200,000 thousand seats in the elections of municipal councils all over the country.

The elections will be held from February 26 to March 3, 1999.