VZCZCXRO3405
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #0674 0730405
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130405Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2526
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6622
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0295
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2196
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2167
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8244
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8813
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000674
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - GENERAL ELECTION IN
IRAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Yomiuri led with
plans by the Environment Ministry to release its
research projection that it is possible to curb the
emission of global warming gases by 10 billion tons
worldwide by 2020.
2. "Anti-President Mood Mounting" The liberal Tokyo
Shimbun's Tehran correspondent wrote (3/6): "A
parliamentary election will be held in Iran tomorrow.
As domestic criticism is mounting of President
Ahmadinejad for his failed economic management and for
the country's international isolation over its nuclear
development, the election results would provide a clue
to the outcome of the presidential race scheduled for
next year. In addition to reformists, some in the
conservative camp have also made clear their opposition
to the president. A focus of attention is being paid to
how many seats a pro-president bloc can win."
3. "Power Struggle Intensifying within Conservatives"
The conservative Sankei reported from Tehran (3/6): "It
is increasingly certain that conservatives will win big
in Friday's general election in Iran. However, an
internal division is growing within the conservative
camp, pitting ultraconservatives supportive of
President Ahmadinejad against those critical of his
hard-line foreign policy over its nuclear development.
A power struggle appears to be raging within the bloc
in view of the presidential election in June next
year."
SCHIEFFER