TEHRAN - In an open letter to the Supreme Leader released on Tuesday Hashmei Rafsanjani has reacted to allegations made against him and his family by President Ahmadinejad.

In his debate with presidential contender Mir-Hossein Mousavi on Wednesday night Ahmadinejad accused Rafsanjani and his family of economic corruption. Ahmadinejad also claimed that after his victory in 2005 election, Rafsanjani had written a letter to an Arab country in the Persian Gulf region saying that that the Ahmadinejad government will collapse within six months.
The incumbent president also leveled charges against former Majlis speaker Nateq-Nouri’s family.
In his letter Rafsanjani stated that Ahmadinejad’s “unfounded and irresponsible” remarks during the debate with Mousavi were reminiscent of the bitter actions of the anti-revolutionary groups at the beginning of the Islamic Revolution and also charges against him in the 2005 presidential election and parliamentary elections in 2000.
Rafsanjani dismissed as “unacceptable” the view that the accusations were “unplanned” and made under the atmosphere in the televised debate.
The chairman of the Expediency Council said the accusations are illegal and run against Sharia (religious values) and are devoid of ethics