KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is promising to press ahead with his reformist policies as he takes office for a second term. Mr. Khatami was sworn in today after a dispute between his reformist allies and conservative opponents delayed the inauguration. Shirzad Bozorgmehr has more on the political battle of wills and Mr. Khatami's vision for the Islamic republic.</s>SHIRZAD BOZORGMEHR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iran's reformist President Mohammad Khatami was sworn in today for his second term, and promised the nation to protect the citizens' individual rights and freedoms, granted by the constitution. A dispute between the conservative judiciary and the reformists in parliament over the approval of new members of the oversight guardian counsel, delayed President Khatami's inauguration for three days. President Khatami swore to protect the official national religion, Islam, to defend justice, personal liberties granted by the Constitution, and to defend the country's national integrity. The reformist president then delivered a long, but somewhat unspecific speech. He emphasized the rule of law and the responsibility and accountability of officials to the people. Khatami said he realized in his first term the immensity of the problems facing the country, and complained that he paid a heavy price for trying to implement his programs. He condemned violence in all its forms, and maintained that violence and legal punishment were two separate issues and should not be confused. Khatami said political extremism must not be allowed to interfere with social, economic and administrative programs, and urged the judiciary and the legislature to work together and help him achieve his goals. Analysts in Iran were surprised by the president's speech, which was very general. Some of them believe that, following the recent political disputes, Khatami may have reached some kind of compromise with the conservatives regarding the sharing of political power. This, however, does not mean that his supporters in parliament are willing to do the same. Shirzad Bozorgmehr, for CNN, Teheran.
Iranian President Promises to Sustain Reform in Second Term