Former President Quits Parliament

Former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani resigned from the incoming parliament, state radio announced, depriving hard-liners of a leading figure in the power struggle between conservatives and reformists. Rafsanjani was expected to be nominated by hard-line legislators for the influential post of parliamentary speaker. His decision came a day after reformists--who have aligned themselves behind President Mohammad Khatami--shouted slogans against him at a Tehran University demonstration. Reformist candidates won the most votes in February’s parliamentary elections.