TEHRAN Iran's pro-reform May 23 Front has encountered an impasse and is waging a psychological war to break this deadlock, but to no avail, a leading right-winger said here Friday.

Mohammadreza Bahonar, a former MP and secretary general of Iran's Islamic engineers society, an influential political group linked to the right wing, said, "May 23 Front should reveal whether it is seeking a healthy contest or a rival-less victory."

Bahonar took a swipe at Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh who has been appointed as the official in charge of the presidential? Elections headquarters, saying such a radical person should not have been appointed to this post.

He said that holding referendum would negate obedience to law and also a democratic, healthy elections.

Bahonar said spreading rumors that conservatives had filed a motion to impeach embattled reformist President Mohammad Khatami because he is unfit for office is a token of psychological war.

In early December, a close Khatami ally said a conservative-led impeachment motion was before the Supreme Court claiming the president was incapable of carrying out his constitutional duties.

Mohammad Salamati, secretary general of the radical Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization (IRMO), made the charge during a speech on a Tehran college campus.

"They have given the president responsibility but no power," Salamati said, echoing the complaints Khatami himself has made with increasing frequency in the run-up to the next presidential election in June.

Khatami has twice alluded to conservatives "looking to deceive the population and the youth on ... the realization of their rights," and said he lacked "sufficient power" in office.

(IRNA)