Iran’s president marked the anniversary of the nation’s foundation as an Islamic republic today by declaring it is now a “nuclear state”.

PROTESTERS set fires and smashed store windows yesterday in a second day ofviolence as groups challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election tried to keep pressure onauthorities.

Iran’s largest pro-reform party has lost hope that free and fair parliamentary elections can be held as scheduled on February 20 and will boycott the polls, its leader said today.

IRAN’S reformist government threatened to resign yesterday as other reformers accused hardliners of treason for disqualifying candidates in next month’s parliamentary elections.