Iran: Conservatives criticize president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again

 2008-09-13 15:43:01 - TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Two prominent Iranians, one conservative, one reformist, have ridiculed hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying his handling of the economy has harmed the country. Iran's former chief nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani, a conservative, says despite Ahmadinejad's rhetoric, U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program have been harmful. Mahdi Karroubi, a reformist ex-speaker of Iran's parliament, says it is «shocking» that Ahmadinejad paints such a rosy picture of the economy.  The remarks appeared in several newspapers Saturday.  Ahmadinejad was elected in 2005 promising to bring oil revenues to every family, eradicate poverty and tackle unemployment. He has faced fierce criticism for his failure to meet those promises.