The embattled President was addressing the Majles, presenting his new 20-ministers cabinet in which all of them except four have already served in his past government.

Out of 290 deputies, 232 were present only to hear Mr. Khatami.

In his speech, Mr. Khatami cited the "institutionalisation" of the society by promoting the rule of law" as one of the main priority of the future government.

"If we do not pay attention to the demands of our people, we shall find ourselves confronting them, with the result being either more repression or chaos", the President told the deputies.

As he was talking about his reforms, outside, the Law Enforcement Forces were busy to enforce strict Islamic behaviour, making sure restaurants and cafes are closed to women without proper Islamic dress, than no one walks with his dog, that no female underwear are displayed on the shops windows, that no one wears T-shirt with posters of pop and movie stars etc.

Defending his proposed ministers, Mr. Khatami told the open session of House that there was no other alternative for the independence and progress of the society but to go with the rule of law.

"We still ignore why he did not pick new faces and kept the old ones, including some of the more controversial", another deputy observed.

"If we seek institutionalisation of the society, laws have priority over individuals and all should abide by the laws", the president said, as Police was arresting young boys and girls not related to each other.

The president stressed that such supervision meant presence of free press, groupings, and political and social activities "within the framework of law".

He was speaking of the freedom of the press as on orders from Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, the regime’s leader, the Islamic Judiciary had shut all but few independent and pro-reforms publications and arrested a dozen of journalists.

When recently asked by reporters about the press clampdown, Mr. Khatami said he was not sure that the closure of more than 50 titles and imprisonment of a dozen of leading journalists had been done "illegally".

"We should have such a society that could be safe for all citizens who are active--either in favour or against--within the framework of the system while abiding by the law but is unsafe for the enemies of people and enemies of the nation. This is what social security means," remarked the president.

Elsewhere in his remarks the president said that the country is exposed to various threats, pointing to beefing up the defence power of the country as another priority of the government.

"At present we should be ready to defend our country and remove any threats", he said.

He said economic regulation is based on the three pillars of economic growth, guaranteeing social justice and safeguarding people's rights.

"There are still persons who consider notification made and questions raised by president as intervention in domestic affairs of the other two branches of the government," he reiterated, referring to the Judiciary’s conflicts with both the Majles and the government.

Here is the list of the new cabinet as proposed to the Majles for confirmation: