Iran's police chief resigns to run for presidency

Iran's police chief Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf has resigned his post and membership of the armed forces so as to run for the presidency in the coming elections.

The official news agency IRNA quoted a source close to Qalibaf's campaign headquarters as saying Sunday that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has accepted Qalibaf's resignation.

Last month, former president of Iran's state television IRIB Ali Larijani was announced the official conservative presidential candidate.

But Qalibaf and several other hardliners refused to withdraw in favor of a single conservative nominee.

Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a more moderate conservative, also intended to contest in the June 17 elections. He is expected to announce final decision in the next few days.

Reformist president Mohammade Khatami is ineligible to stand for a third consecutive term.