October 23, 2001	Tuesday	Shaba'an 5, 1422

TEHRAN, Oct 22: Iranian officials recently refused to meet a special envoy from former Afghan monarch Mohammad Zahir Shah because it would “weaken” the opposition Northern Alliance, the centrist ‘Entekhab’ paper reported on Monday.

“This information was circulated in the parliament on Sunday,” the daily said, adding that Zahir Shah’s envoy had requested a meeting with “senior-ranking” Iranian officials.

However, Iran’s National Security Council headed by President Mohammad Khatami, “refused to accept the request because accepting it would weaken the Northern Alliance,” the paper said.

On Sunday, Khatami called for “free and general elections” in Afghanistan. —APP