TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here on Monday called on councilors to get themselves directly involved in problems facing the public and avoid getting engaged in politics.

Speaking at a meeting of councilors Khatami said that Islamic councils should avoid factionalism and deal, instead, with acute social problems.

He added that there might be certain people with special political tendencies. To be political, however, is different from making political tricks, he commented.

Rural Islamic councils have been less political than the city councils because of dealing mostly with real issues and fulfilling their main duties, said the president, adding that this has made them more successful than the urban councils.

He called on all people, institutions, systems and reliable bodies as well as the clerics to be careful in choosing candidates for membership in rural and urban councils that are standard bearers of serving the masses and tackling their problems.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatami termed councils as the strongest, most solid bases of democracy. Nothing can have as many impacts on promotion of democracy and enhancement of public contribution to their fate as the councils do, added the president.

He praised the councils for their bright record thanks to the Iranian people's wisdom, merits and competence.

Councils should be taken as an outstanding example of democracy and its pillar in the Islamic Republic establishment as well as an organ which is not at all affiliated to the government or other state institutions and which fulfills its duties alongside the public institutions with specific sorts of responsibility, IRNA reported.

He said with councils functioning in the country, the government must be streamlined and deal, instead, with more basic affairs under present complicated situation in the country.

Practically, many responsibilities can be entrusted to councils provided problems would be solved without exerting any pressure on people, said the president.

President Khatami also urged the councilors to observe 'Transparency' in their decisions and stances they take and in raising their opinion. He also advised the Islamic council members to maintain their close relationships and affinity with the public, whom they represent.

He also appealed to the councils to be in constant contact with municipalities and other organs of the government.