Iran leader tells election watchdog to avoid politics

TEHRAN, July 11 (Reuters) Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday told a powerful watchdog body whose role includes vetting election candidates today not to let ''political tendencies'' interfere in its decisions.

Khamenei's remarks in a speech to the Guardian Council broadcast on state television followed calls in recent weeks by senior politicians opposed to ultra-conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for fair parliamentary polls next year.

The Guardian Council has vetoed hundreds of candidates for failing to meet the requirements of office in previous local council, parliamentary and presidential elections. Pro-reform politicians complain it aims to keep them out of power.

Khamenei told members of the Guardian Council, which also acts as a constitutional watchdog, to take decisions based on ''regulations and law'' not on personal preferences or political considerations.

''Taste should not interfere (in decision-making). Political ... tendencies should not interfere as well,'' he said in the speech in which he also praised the council's work.

One analyst said the leader could be seeking to encourage more ''leniency'' in the March election towards candidates from the pro-reform or pragmatic camp of politicians who oppose Ahmadinejad for his economic management and for isolating Iran.

TOUGH OBSTACLES Analysts say the parliamentary election could be a crucial test of support for Ahmadinejad, who swept to power in 2005 vowing to share out Iran's oil wealth more fairly but whose policies are blamed for fuelling inflation.

But they say much will depend on who is allowed to run.

Ahmadinejad's supporters fared poorly in local council polls in December, even though pro-reform candidates complained many of their prospective candidates were blocked. Some reformists fear they could face tough obstacles to run in the March polls.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president beaten by Ahmadinejad in the last presidential race, was quoted by Etemmad newspaper this month calling for ''a healthy election'', according to a BBC Monitoring report.

Mohammad Khatami, a former reformist president who left office in 2005, has also been quoted criticising those who brand reformers or government critics enemies of religion.

''There has been a lot of agitation (by pragmatists and reformists) ... about the health of the upcoming parliamentary election. They are insisting there should be some sort of safeguards from Guardian Council about screening,'' said one political analyst who asked not to be named.

Candidate registration for the parliamentary election starts on Jan. 5 and voting is on March 14, Iran media have reported.

Requirements for candidates include showing a commitment to Islam -- unless candidates are representing a religious minority in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran -- and commitment to the ruling system of the Islamic Republic, media have said.

REUTERS SYU RK2304