TEHRAN, June 4 (UPI) -- Incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on the defensive in a presidential debate in a way that some say violated the national constitution.
Ahmadinejad faced off against rival contender and former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi in a rare live televised debate.
The incumbent lashed out at Mousavi supporters, Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, saying the two former presidents were plotting to push the conservative from power, the Iranian Press TV reports.
Ahmadinejad also accused Zahra Rahnavard, the former prime minister's wife, of falsely obtaining her doctorate degree.
Nemat Ahmadi, a political analyst and lawyer in Tehran, told Press TV the comments from Ahmadinejad violated the Iranian Constitution, which requires court convictions before claims of guilt.
"What Ahmadinejad said last night was clearly in breach of the Constitution," Ahmadi said. "All those who he named can file a complaint against him."
Iran's Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weighed in on the matter as well, criticizing the use of slander in the televised debate.
Mousavi defended himself against the Ahmadinejad attack, saying the president used slander as a method of last resort.
Iran holds presidential elections June 12. Ahmadinejad faces challenges from Mousavi, former military commander Mohsen Rezaei and former Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi.
Analysts suspect Mousavi poses the greatest threat to Ahmadinejad.
