WORLD : Iran’s Radicals Flex Muscles, Elect Anti-Western Cleric as Speaker

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Iran’s Parliament today elected as its Speaker a fiercely anti-Western cleric, Mehdi Karrubi, underlining radicals’ strength and the uphill task facing incoming President Hashemi Rafsanjani in pursuing more pragmatic policies.

The Iranian news agency IRNA said Karrubi, 52, was chosen ahead of his moderate challenger, Ali Akbar Nateq Noori, by 147 votes to 92.

Karrubi’s election is unlikely to affect Iran’s stance on key questions, such as the fate of Western hostages believed held by pro-Iranian militants in Lebanon, which will be decided by a handful of top leaders.

But hard-liners in Parliament can force policies on the Cabinet, as they did with a resolution ordering a break in ties with Britain over the Salman Rushdie affair in March.