Mr. Koizumi, knowing that Japan's conservative Parliament is years from accepting such trade liberalization, dismissed the proposal, saying, "We should take a medium- to long-term view of the matter."

The Chairman of the conservative Parliament, Ruslan I. Khasbulatov, ordered an investigation into the "use of force against the participants in a peaceful demonstration."

Ataollah Mohajerani, Mr. Khatami's nominee as the new Culture Minister, expressed that vision during an appearance in August before the conservative Parliament.

Former members make up more than a third of the conservative Parliament that was elected earlier this year.

In concert with the conservative Parliament just elected, a conservative president could quickly brake reform policies and complicate Russia's relations with the West.

The conservative Parliament, under its ambitious chairman, Ruslan I. Khasbulatov, would then use its powers to slow or reverse economic reforms.

The decision to publish the book now seems aimed at strengthening Mr. Khatami's political base at home, where he has met considerable resistance from Iran's conservative Parliament.

To silence an increasingly emboldened press, the outgoing conservative Parliament also passed a law last week that severely restricts the activities of the press.

And if he is to stay in power, he has to prevent mass unemployment and compromise with a conservative Parliament.

In the latest effort to curb the widespread consumption and distribution of alcohol, the new conservative Parliament recently increased the punishment for selling or drinking it.