Iran's clerical leaders are said to be considering removing the position of the Supreme Leader and forcing the resignation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when the government said it had arrested the daughter and other relatives of former President.

Iran's state-owned Press TV said on Sunday the daughter and four other relatives of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanijani were released later.

The country's Assembly of Experts and the Expediency Council are reported to be considering the formation of a collective leadership to replace the position of supreme leader according to Al Arabiya, citing sources in the holy city of Qom.

The Assembly of Experts, a body of Islamic clerics, is responsible for overseeing the Supreme Leader and can even remove the Supreme Leader should they decide to.

The Expediency Council is responsible for mediating disputes between the parliament elected by the people and the unelected Guardian Council.

Both groups are headed by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a key rival to Ayatollah Khamenei and a strong supporter of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

On Saturday five members of Rafsanjani's family were arrested for taking part in demonstrations against the controversial re-election of President Ahmadinejad. They have subsequently been released.