Mr. Yoosefi-Eshkevari was first arrested in August 2000 on his return from Berlin, via Paris, where he underwent medical treatment for diabetes and condemned to death, charged with "fighting God", "apostasy" and "renouncing Islam".

The Berlin Conference, centred on the future of reforms in Iran, was organised by the German government-sponsored "Heinrich Boel Institute" and attended by 17 leading Iranian reformists and dissidents of all walk, including Mr. Yoosefi-Eshkevari.

The meeting, which was disrupted by several Iranian groups opposed to the Islamic Republic, was immediately denounced in Tehran by the ruling conservative establishment, accusing both the organisers and the participants of attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

But the harsher sentence was pronounced against Mr. Yoosefi-Eshkevari for his address to the venue, defending, among other controversial religious issues, Muslim women’s right to wear or not the hejab, or the compulsory Islamic dress for women.

He had also said that some items contained in Qor’an, Muslim’s holly Book, are not "intangible" and could be changed according the time.

Another of Mr. Yoosefi-Eshkevari’s "cardinal sin" is to be one of the first and few clerics who urged the separation of religion from State politcs.

His declaration outraged the orthodox ayatollahs and the CST – a court directly controlled by Mr. Khameneh'i but contested by many clerics, jurists and experts as both illegal and unconstitutional -- condemned him to death and defrocked him.

Mr. Abbas Barzegar, the "official" lawyer of Mr. Yoosefi-Eshkevari confirmed the new sentence, noting that since he had already passed two years behind bars, he will remain in prison for another five years.

According to Mr. Barzegar, the new ruling sentenced the outspoken cleric to four years in prison for his contesting of the mandatory aspect of hejab, one year for attending the Berlin conference and two years for '"spreading lies" about the chain murder of several dissident intellectuals and politicians in late November1998, his lawyer told the Persian service of Radio France Internationale.

Outspoken journalist and politician, Akbar Ganji, who just published on the internet a "Manifesto of Republicanism", in which he defends secularism and calls for civil disobedience, is another of the participants at the Berlin meeting who is serving a five year prison term.

The assault, the fiercest one since Mr. Khatami became president five years ago, started immediately after he presented to reformists-dominated Majles with two bills aimed at restoring some of the presidential prerogatives the conservatives have "confiscated" and curbing the extra rights the powerful Council of Guardians have reserved for themselves to accept or reject candidates credentials for any election.

Mr. Borqani, a former Deputy Islamic Guidance and Culture Minister was told to be in court Wednesday to face charges of "misappropriating public assets", sources said, adding that the summon is related to the opinion poll in which 75 per cent of the interviewees said they favour normalisation with Washington.

"This poll raise questions on the continuity of Mr. Khameneh'i as leader, for the results confirms that 75 per cent of Iranians are against his view concerning the future of relations with America", had observed Mr. Qasem Sho’leh Sa’di, a lawyer teaching at Tehran University.

On orders from the Judiciary, which is directly controlled by Mr. Khameneh'i, IRNA’s General Director Abdollah Naseri was summoned to court and one of the three polling institutes which is sponsored by the Guidance Ministry was closed.

Conservatives-controlled press denounced the results as "fabricated" and accused the reformists of "plot" against the regime.

Mr. Borqani stands accused of illegally financing the institute while serving as Deputy Minister.

Washington cut ties with Iran after radical students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Reformists have repeatedly called for fresh talks with Washington to reduce tension between the two countries.

For her part, Mrs. Haqiqatjou is accused of spreading lies, making propaganda against the State and insulting officials, charges related to a speech she made in the central city of Esfahan, where she criticised the Judiciary for its behaviour with the lawmakers, a parliamentary source said.

It was not immediately clear when Haqiqatjou would appear in court.

More than 30 reformist members of parliament have been prosecuted in the past two years for speeches they made in parliament or articles they published.

Courts have handed out prison terms to a number of deputies, but only one MM, Hoseyn Loqmanian, from Hamadan, has actually been in jail, but Mr. Khameneh’i pardoned him after Hojjatoleslam Mehdi Karrobi, the Majles Speaker went on strike in protest against his incarceration.

Reformers say the sentences contradict laws granting deputies immunity to carry out their official duties and accuse the Judiciary of serving factional interests, not justice.