TEHRAN, May 26: Iran's moderate President-elect Mohammad Khatami has called for greater democracy after his stunning election victory but warned of the need to bolster Islamic values and resist threats from abroad.

``We should all think of a better future in a society ruled by law with a strong sense of spirituality and free of any lawlessness and rogue tendencies,'' Khatami said yesterday in a message broadcast by state radio and television.

The former culture minister, who crushed the candidate of Iran's ruling Conservative Islamic clergy in Friday's poll, urged ``different forces, views, thoughts and skills'' to participate to make a ``greater, versatile and proud Iran.''

But the 54-year-old cleric, who had made more personal freedom, human rights and greater democracy his main campaign themes, stressed his commitment to the Islamic republic. ``More than ever, we need to reinforce Islamic foundations and values as well as the morals of Mohammad; to preserve the dignity, rights and civil liberties of all citizens and to realise social Justice while developing the country.''

Khatami also called on Iranians, whose government has tense relations with many western nations, to ``unanimously resist threats from abroad and vigilantly defend national independence and sovereignty in all domains.''The United States, which has imposed a total embargo against Iran, showed no immediate hope for improved relations.

``We're watching the situation carefully and have no opposition to the Iranian people or an Islamic government,'' a White House official said.However, Iran's Arab neighbours and its arch-foe Israel hailed Khatami's victory as a chance for improved relations.

Iranians began rallying around Khatami yesterday, including outgoing President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who will step down in August.``I do hope that Khatami will be successful in achieving his goals and programmes,'' Rafsanjani told newsmen.

Khamenei can overrule any executive order or law under the country's religious constitution.

But Khatami's large mandate puts him in a strong position to push through his moderate and reform agenda and newspapers across iran's political spectrum have called for change.

Meanwhile, Rafsanjani, has said he would like to see women be appointed cabinet ministers under his newly-elected successor Mohammad Khatami.``We are in favour of the presence of women in the (new) cabinet,'' Rafsanjani told a press conference here yesterday.

The Iranian Constitution bars women from becoming President but does not address the issue of women in other government posts.

For the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, nine women applied to stand for president this year but the Council of Guardians, a body dominated by Conservative clergy, rejected their candidature.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.