Conservatives plan to oust Larijani?

TEHRAN, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Conservative lawmakers are suspected of launching a bid to remove Ali Larijani from his position as the head of the Iranian Parliament, officials say.

Larijani took a cautious approach during the political upheaval that followed the contested presidential elections in June. Though a vocal critic of the opposition, many lawmakers in the conservative camp consider him too soft, reports Iran's Press TV.

Dariush Qanbari, a critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and representative of the so-called Reformist wing of Parliament, said conservatives might try to oust Larijani for his opinions.

"Because of his independent position, the pro-government bloc is trying very hard to eliminate Larijani from the (Parliament)," he said.

He went on to complain that without a moderate voice like Larijani, the Parliament would fall into the hands of conservative Ahmadinejad supporters.

Larijani in the wake of the elections confirmed emerging divisions among conservatives, known as Principlists.

"I confirm that there are differences among Principlists, which are mostly differences of opinion," he said in August.

Civil unrest in the wake of the disputed June 12 presidential election evolved into political upheaval, with questions emerging about the legitimacy of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the clerical leadership in Tehran.