Iran government warns media over "baseless" reports

TEHRAN, Nov 14 (Reuters) Iran's government has threatened to prosecute newspapers publishing ''baseless'' news after the country's supreme leader criticised some media challenging government policies, newspapers reported today.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's most powerful figure, on Sunday accused some newspapers of ''magnifying the minor defects (of the government) by using techniques of propaganda.'' The government spokesman followed up with a warning.

''We will confront disappointing and undocumented reports published by some of the press,'' Gholamhossein Elham was quoted by the pro-reform Etemad-e Melli newspaper as saying.

Newspapers, particularly a handful of reform-minded opposition dailies which still publish, have become increasingly critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policies and rising prices.

The government has said the media have exaggerated price rises, insisting that it welcomes fair criticism from the press.

Khamenei, who has called Ahmadinejad's government the most popular in 100 years, said the press were still free to say what they wanted.

Journalists working for reformist newspapers often complain about mounting pressure from authorities.

''Almost for all political stories we have to get the blessing of the authorities. Otherwise we may face the closure of the paper,'' said a journalist who used to work for the banned Sharq newspaper before he moved to another reformist daily.

The popular newspaper Sharq was banned, in September. The Rouzegar newspaper was launched shortly afterwards with many of the same reporters but it was closed after just a week.

Conservative-leaning newspapers dominate the press and the state controls Iran's broadcast media. Iranians seeking more diverse views turn to satellite television, but police launched a drive in July to enforce a ban on satellite dishes.

Analysts believe that pressure has increased on pro-reform press ahead of the December vote for city councils and the Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body that has the authority to dismiss and appoint the country's supreme leader.

Banning progressive publications is part of conservatives' strategy to win the upcoming elections after evicting reformers from elected posts since 2003, analysts say.

''They want just one voice which is their own voice and nothing more than that,'' said an analyst who declined to be named. ''That will complete their power circle.'' Conservatives already control the military, veto-wielding supervisory bodies, parliament and city councils and enjoy the backing of Khamenei.

More than 100 independent publications have been closed since Khamenei accused the reformist press of being ''bases of the enemy'' in a speech in 2000.

REUTERS MS VC1813