Police in Iran�do not have a duty to implement�Islamic rules, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says at a gathering of�commanders of the Law Enforcement Force of Iran (NAJA)�on police responsibilities on Saturday.

"Police do not have a duty to enforce Islam. Police have a single task, which is to enforce the law," ISNA�news agency quoted President Rouhani as saying.

He also described poverty, unemployment and corruption as real ills in society.

He added that�police need to identify the root causes of social harms in the country.

�Ensuring security in society is different from making the social atmosphere security-centered,� he warned.

He went on to say that police should respect the dignity of individuals in dealing with members of the public; in enforcing laws, police need to pay close attention to priorities.

Iranian police also have a morality control department which implements laws against people who have been violating the Islamic rules including Islamic dress code in the country.

Besides, it should be noted that�Iran's conservative daily Keyhan on Sunday described the President Rouhani�s comment at a meeting with police commanders as �controversial�.