Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Moderate ex-premier Mir Hossein Mousavi claimed victory in a hotly contested presidential vote in Iran on Friday while state news agency said hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won. The conflicting claims came even as crowds of voters were still queuing to cast their ballots long after balloting was officially over at 10:00 pm (1730 GMT). According to the interior ministry, all those in line at that time would be allowed to cast their ballots in the most hotly contested election since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago.Even as the tail-enders were still voting, Mousavi called a news conference in Tehran to claim victory. "In line with the information we have received, I am the winner of this election by a substantial margin," Mousavi said. Only minutes earlier, close Mousavi aide Ali Akbar Mohatshemi-Pour told media his candidate had won 65 percent of the vote. Media, however, announced that Ahmadinejad had won re-eleection. "Doctor Ahmadinejad, by getting a majority of the votes, has become the definite winner of the 10th presidential election," it said. The interior ministry said preliminary results were expected around 4:00 am on Saturday (2330 GMT Friday). Iran's economic woes and its relationship with the outside world emerged as key issues during a feisty campaign marked by carnival-like street rallies and acrimonious candidate debates on prime-time television. The election turned the spotlight on deep divisions in Iran after four years under Ahmadinejad, whose firebrand rhetoric further isolated the country from the West while at home he has come under fire over his economic policies.
Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Moderate ex-premier Mir Hossein Mousavi claimed victory in a hotly contested presidential vote in Iran on Friday while state news agency said hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won. The conflicting claims came even as crowds of voters were still queuing to cast their ballots long after balloting was officially over at 10:00 pm (1730 GMT). According to the interior ministry, all those in line at that time would be allowed to cast their ballots in the most hotly contested election since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago.Even as the tail-enders were still voting, Mousavi called a news conference in Tehran to claim victory. "In line with the information we have received, I am the winner of this election by a substantial margin," Mousavi said. Only minutes earlier, close Mousavi aide Ali Akbar Mohatshemi-Pour told media his candidate had won 65 percent of the vote. Media, however, announced that Ahmadinejad had won re-eleection. "Doctor Ahmadinejad, by getting a majority of the votes, has become the definite winner of the 10th presidential election," it said. The interior ministry said preliminary results were expected around 4:00 am on Saturday (2330 GMT Friday). Iran's economic woes and its relationship with the outside world emerged as key issues during a feisty campaign marked by carnival-like street rallies and acrimonious candidate debates on prime-time television. The election turned the spotlight on deep divisions in Iran after four years under Ahmadinejad, whose firebrand rhetoric further isolated the country from the West while at home he has come under fire over his economic policies.
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