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Iran Reformist Candidate Targets Ahmadinejad's Holocaust Denial


One of two reformist candidates in Iran's upcoming election is lashing out at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his denial of the Holocaust.

Former parliamentary speaker Mehdi Karroubi says Mr. Ahmadinejad's claim that the Holocaust never happened, only serves to antagonize the West. He also says such comments help the rest of the world to stand by Israel.

This is not the first time Mr. Karroubi has criticized the Iranian president for his stance on the Holocaust, during which six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis.

In April, he called Mr. Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust "harmful" to Iran's interests.

Mr. Karroubi and fellow reformist presidential candidate, former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi have also accused President Ahmadinejad of mismanaging the country's oil resources.

Iranians go to the polls June 12.

Mr. Mousavi was prime minister in the 1980s during Iran's war with Iraq and is seen as the main challenger to President Ahmadinejad.

Although Iran's nuclear program and Mr. Ahmadinejad's negative comments about Israel have generated attention abroad, analysts predict the worsening Iranian economy and high inflation will dominate the campaign.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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