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Ahmadinejad denounces arrest of his allies | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s embattled president has denounced recent arrests of his allies on corruption charges and has warned against detentions of any Cabinet members.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the arrests are “politically motivated” and seek to pressure his government.

Dozens of the president’s allies have been detained over the past months in an evolving power struggle between Ahmadinejad and Iran’s clerical leaders.

Four senior government officials were arrested last week. There have also been calls by hard-liners for the arrest of Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff.

Ahmadinejad is believed to be maneuvering to set up a possible successor in the 2013 presidential elections and to be seeking to manipulate parliamentary elections slated for March 2012.