Iranian cleric announces presidential candidacy

A moderate Iranian cleric has announced he will challenge Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Iran's presidency in 2009. Mehdi Karrubi is a reformist known for criticizing the president both for his handling of the economy and for needlessly antagonizing the West. He made his announcement Sunday. Karrubi is a veteran of the 1979 Islamic revolution, but is a comparatively minor figure, suggesting the bid is largely symbolic. Karrubi has said he would pursue a trust-building policy with the West over Iran's nuclear activities. Iran has been accused of seeking atomic weapons, a charge it denies.