Middle East News
Rafsanjani elected as head of Iran's highest clergy assembly
By DPA
Sep 4, 2007, 7:50 GMT

Tehran - Iranian ex-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani was elected Tuesday as head of the Assembly of Experts, the country's highest clergy body, the news network Khabar reported.

Rafsanjani prevailed against his closest rival, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, a hardliner and close aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The 86-member Assembly of Experts - which is elected just once every eight years - has the power to appoint, supervise and even oust Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who constitutionally has the final say on all state affairs.

Although the assembly has no direct political power, the election of Rafsanjani, a fierce opponent to Ahmadinejad, is regarded by observers as a setback for the president's wing within the country's high-ranking clergy circles.