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Saturday, June 13, 2009, TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registered a thumping victory in Iran's fiercely contested presidential race, official results showed on Saturday, in a major upset for his moderate rival. "Doctor Ahmadinejad, by getting a majority of the votes, has become the definite winner of the 10th presidential election," state news agency declared as his jubilant supporters took to the streets in celebration. Ahmadinejad won 65 percent of the vote against more than 32 percent for war-time premier Mousavi, with almost 90 percent of ballot boxes counted, said election commission chief Kamran Daneshjoo, highlighting the massive turnout.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and head of the Expediency Council - Iran's top political arbitration body, has given resignation from his office.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama held out the "possibility of change" in US-Iran ties, but his administration insisted Tehran halt its sensitive nuclear work. "We are excited to see what appears to be a robust debate taking place in Iran," Obama told reporters amid conflicting claims over who has won Friday's election."And obviously after the speech that I made in Cairo, we tried to send a clear message that we think there's the possibility of change, and, you know, ultimately the election is for the Iranians to decide."But just as has been true in Lebanon, what can be true in Iran as well, is that you're seeing people looking at new possibilities."

Saturday, June 13, 2009 WASHINGTON: The launch of space shuttle Endeavour has been cancelled due to a hydrogen leak, Nasa officials have announced.Endeavour was due to take off from Cape Canaveral with seven astronauts at 0717 local time (1117 GMT), but was cancelled several hours beforehand. The problem was discovered during fuelling, before the astronauts had donned their spacesuits. The shuttle was to deliver equipment for space experiments, as well as drop off a new station crewmember. The ship would have taken three days to reach the International Space Station, where six astronauts work. It was to deliver the final components of Japan's Kibo laboratory.

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. "Doc...

Saturday, June 13, 2009 KABUL: A British soldier was among three-dozen people killed in a surge of attacks in Afghanistan, authorities said Friday, with violence at record levels two months ahead of presidential elections. The new bloodshed was announced as General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, warned Thursday of more "tough months" ahead in the battle against extremist insurgents here. Six Afghan policemen were killed on Friday in separate bomb blasts in the eastern province of Paktika and in the southern city of Kandahar, authorities said. Several people were also wounded in the attacks. Another bomb blast killed a British soldier, serving in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), near Kandahar city on Thursday, the British defence ministry said.ISAF announced meanwhile that four Afghan civilians were killed Thursday in a traffic accident involving one of its vehicles in the northeastern province of Kunar. Two more civil...

Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has taken a strong early lead in his bid for a second term as Iran's president, chalking up 69 percent of the vote after 19 percent of ballots were counted in Friday's election, the elections chief said. Ahmadinejad received 3,462,548 votes, compared to 1,425,678 for his closest challenger, former premier Mir Hossein Mousavi, said Kamran Daneshjoo, chairman of the electoral commission at the interior ministry. That gave Ahmadinejad 69.04 percent of the vote and Mousavi 28.42 percent in the massively supported elections which saw long queues at polling stations from early morning and forced continual extensions of the cut-off time. Mousavi, Ahmadinejad's challenger-in-chief, had earlier claimed a landslide victory in Iran's most hotly contested election since the Islamic revolution 30 years ago. "In line with the information we have received, I am the winner of this election by a substantial margin," Mousavi ...

Saturday, June 13, 2009 BRUSSELS: A German cargo vessel has been seized by pirates off the coast of Oman, the first such attack in the area, a NATO spokesman told media on Friday. NATO defence ministers earlier Friday agreed to prolong the military alliance's anti-piracy operations in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, with at least six countries ready to take part in the new mission. At the last count 14 ships were still being held by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, together with more than 200 seamen, almost a quarter of them Filipinos.The world's naval powers have deployed dozens of warships to the lawless waters off Somalia over the past year to curb attacks by pirates threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 NEW YORK: The UN Security Council has approved tough new sanctions against North Korea following its recent nuclear test.The resolution imposed new sanctions on the reclusive communist nation's weapons exports and financial dealings and allowed inspections of suspect cargo in ports and on the high seas.US deputy ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo said the vote was a strong and united international response to North Korea's unacceptable behaviour.North Korea's underground nuclear blast on May 25 brought its relations with the international community to a new low, ending a period of easing tension which followed the test of a smaller device in 2006.Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed the unanimous resolution as "important for its unity, clarity and intent - for North Korea to adhere to its international obligations".In a statement issued by the Foreign Office in London, Miliband said, "The resolution is absolutely clear in ...

Saturday, June 13, 2009 TEHRAN: Reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi won Iran's presidential election on Friday with 65 percent of the vote, a close aide to the former premier claimed"According to the information received from provinces and from Tehran, Mousavi has got 65 percent of the votes cast," Ali Akbar Mohatshemi-Pour told media.Mohatshemi-Pour spoke to media as the candidate was preparing to hold a news conference.Mousavi has been running a neck-and-neck race with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is seeking a second four-year term.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 LONDON: South Africa defeated West Indies by 20 runs in in their ICC World Twenty20 Group E Super Eights match at the Oval here on Saturday.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board sources said two changes are being made in the team to play against New Zealand in the next match of ICC Twenty20 World Cup Super Eight round, Geo News reported Saturday.The sources said Ahmed Shehzad will be given chance in place of Salman Butt and Abdur Razzaq will replace Sohail Tanveer.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 LONDON: Andy Murray continued his bid for a maiden grass-court title with victory over Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals of the Aegon Championships at Queen's.The 22-year-old top seed beat his American opponent 7-5 6-3 and will meet Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semi-finals. Andy Roddick overcame Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) and will face fellow American James Blake in the semi-final. Blake saw off Russian Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in Friday's final match at Queen's. Ferrero, the former world number one now ranked 90th, reached his first semi-final on grass with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Steve Darcis of Belgium.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 LONDON: Pakistan would face New Zealand in a must-win Super Eights match at the Oval today (Saturday).In another fixture of the day, South Africa meet West Indies at Kennington. Skipper Younis Khan termed his come back as good for the team.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 LONDON: West Indies beat defending champions India by seven wickets with eight balls to spare in their first day-night match of the Super Eights in the World Twenty20 here at Lord’s on Friday.Chasing a modest target of 154, West Indies achieved it in 18.4 overs with Dwayne Bravo remained not out on 66. He faced only 36 balls and smashed three sixes and four boundaries.Other main scorer was Lendl Simmons who made 44 from 37 balls with five fours.For India, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan and Pragyan Ojha got one wicket each.Earlier, Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan staged a late rally to help India post 153-7 in the allotted 20 overs.India, electing to bat on a slow wicket, had managed only 66 on the board by the 12th over for the loss of four wickets before Yuvraj and Yusuf put on 64 off 35 balls for the fifth wicket.Left-handed Yuvraj, who hit England's Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the inaugural T20 Worlds in South Africa two years ago, smashed a valuab...