In a manifesto to be approved by the Berlin meeting, the participants calls for a secular, parliamentary republic for Iran open to all nations without distinction.

According to one of the organizers, it took them more than one year to prepare this meeting, bringing to Berlin pro-republic Iranian dispersed all over the United States and Europe, as well as some representatives from Iran itself.

Observers said while some points of the manifesto, like the clause that calls for secularism can not be endorsed openly by the delegates who came from Tehran, the staunch anti-monarchist point not only alienates many Iranians who support a constitutional monarchy, but shows the republicans undemocratic attitude.

"Rejecting out hand the monarchists do not augur well for the Berlin meeting", observed Mr. Dariush Homayoon, the leader of the largest pro-monarchy movement based in Switzerland.

However, he wished success to the conference and stressed that it is necessary that the Iranian pro-republic movement speak with one single voice and put an end to its endless bickering, as the monarchists did, by rejecting the ultras from their rank.

"Though most of the participants belong to leftist and secular groups, but it is interesting that for the first time representatives of the Iranian National Front and Nationalist-religious movements are also present", noted Mr. Dariush Homa’i, a correspondent for the Persian service of the BBC covering the meeting. ENDS REPUBLICANS MEETING 8104