Iran's electoral crisis deepened today with the government warning a parliamentary vote lacked legitimacy and could not be held due to the mass disqualification of reformist candidates by a hardline watchdog.
With elected reformists and appointed hardliners apparently further than ever from compromise over the February 20th poll, President Mohammad Khatami's office denied a report by the official IRNA news agency earlier today that he had told reporters talks to resolve the crisis were at a "dead-end".
"Khatami did not say such a thing," a spokesman said.
Mr Khatami has expressed hope the row could be solved through negotiations and a competitive vote will be held on schedule.
But his optimism appeared at odds with most of his allies. Reformist MPs said they would announce mass resignations in coming days and may boycott the election altogether.
The candidate bans meant reformists could not contest more than half of parliament's 290 seats, the interior minister said.