Iranian President Mohammad Khatami yesterday attacked the actions of a conservative watchdog that banned thousands of reformist candidates from running in February's parliamentary election. Outraged members of parliament vowed to resist, and one complained of a "coup d'etat" by the Guardian Council, a 12-member conservative oversight body that has blocked scores of reform bills approved by parliament in recent years. It was not immediately clear precisely how many of the 8,200 aspiring candidates had been barred, but initial results from several provinces carried by the official Irna news agency indicated it was between 50 and 60 per cent. Reformist MPs staged a walkout to protest against the Guardian's Council decision. Khatami told journalists: "I don't see these methods as compatible with the principles of religious democracy." He said he would hold talks with the Guardian Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all state issues. Reformist parties dominate the current parliament but MP Reza Yousefian said more than 80 of the 290 sitting members, including himself, had been banned from seeking re-election. "I believe this kind of disqualification is an illegal coup d'etat, a non-military regime change," senior reformist MP Mohsen Mirdamadi told reporters, speculating many would resign. The election is already set to be a test of popular patience with the toothless reform movement. Many of the country's youthful population say they will not turn out to vote in protest at the lack of social and economic reforms. Senior officials said Khamenei had been surprised by the number of disqualifications. Mohammad Reza Khatami, the president's brother and head of Iran's leading reformist party, was also barred. He said MPs would fight back, starting with a sit-in at the parliament building. "Parliament will be turned into a focal point to confront these illegal moves," he said. "This could damage Iran's international relations...People will only participate in elections where they have a choice." He said reformists might call on the government to scrap the February 20 election if the vetoes were not overruled. Some reformist parties have already threatened to boycott the election if too many of their candidates are barred. MP Jamileh Kadivar, herself approved to run again, said other reformists who had been given the nod were so outraged they might boycott the election. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Iranian President Mohammad Khatami delivers a speech. (AFP/File/Ramzi Haidar