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The head of the Revolutionary Guard Corps has openly castigated the reform minded Iranian president for trying to turn Iran into a secular republic. Although president Khatami wants reform, he has not come out for a secular republic. But most of Khatami's supporters (80 percent of the population) are in favor of a secular republic. The 125,000 man Revolutionary Guard Corps could slow down a full blown popular rebellion. Leaders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps have condemned the threat of