BBC: Early lead for Iranian hardliner

The ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has taken an early lead in Iran's presidential run-off, election officials say.

Results based on slightly more than a tenth of the vote show Mr Ahmadinejad on 60% compared to his more moderate opponent, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Officials said 3.1m ballots had been counted out of an estimated 29m votes and turnout was close to 70%.

It is not known whether these results include Rafsanjani strongholds.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4621249.stm

This is a very bad development. :scared:

...capacity.

Help marginalize the secular/moderate middle in the ME by invading/occupying their countries. This administration wants their equivalent radical fundies running the governments there....all the easier to start the 21st century Crusade.

"Bring it, Israel" in his first speech?

And if he does, will Israel do so or will Sharon beg us to continue to do his dirty work for him?

I am not sure even * hasn't seen through Sharon's strategy by now.

has promised to increase unemployment benefits; that's why the poor people vote for him.

Very happy! It will give him more propaganda to start another dirty little war.

Analysis from today's World Media Watch.....


1//IranMania, UK Thursday, June 23, 2005

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?ArchiveNews=Yes&NewsCode=32836&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs



IRAN’S NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY SEEN AT STAKE IN RUN-OFF



LONDON, June 23 (IranMania) - A victory in Iran's presidential run-off by hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinejad would remove a moderating influence from within the regime and could put the Islamic republic on a collision course with the West, diplomats and analysts said.



Seen as being most at stake is Iran's relatively pragmatic approach in diplomacy over its nuclear programme, which Iran maintains is for peaceful purposes but is seen by many as the cover for weapons development.


SNIP

"It is extremely important to understand that what is at stake is this process concerning dangerous nuclear materials," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy cautioned after Ahmadinejad was thrust into a shock run-off against Rafsanjani.



SNIP


But a loss by the regime veteran could see both him and Iran's nuclear negotiators, including Rafsanjani loyalists such as Hassan Rowhani, squeezed out amid a wider political shift to the right.



According to Ahmadinejad, currently Tehran's mayor, "those who are handling the talks are terrified, and before they even sit down at the negotiating table they retreat 500 kilometres."

"A popular and fundamentalist government," he added, "will quickly change that."



An Ahmadinejad win would also place every Iranian elected and non-elected institution under the control of Iran's anti-Western religious right, ending what has up to now been a delicate equilibrium in decision making between moderates and hardliners.

MORE

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranians clogged polling stations in a tight presidential election Friday, teetering between a powerful cleric who liberals hope will protect Iran's reforms and an ultraconservative who tapped into deep resentment over the nation's economic woes.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050624/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_elections

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:)

(Same link as in the root post)
Updated Saturday June 25 00:31 GMT (Friday 5:31 pm PDT)

The ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is poised to win a landslide victory in Iran's presidential election, figures show.

On a count of 80% of the 22m ballots cast, he had won 61% with his more moderate opponent, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, trailing on 35%.

Turnout was 47%, down from 63% in the first round.

Mr Ahmadinejad surprised observers by beating five other candidates in the first round to reach the run-off.

This is not a good turn of events for the cause of human freedom and enlightened progress.

No suprise there, then.

I love it when republicans say that Iranians love Americans, cracks me up.

They like the US too.

But they HATE the US government. Especially the present one.

Iranians choose hardliner as new president
Last Updated Fri, 24 Jun 2005 20:03:53 EDT

Tehran Mayor Mahoud Ahmadinejad has won the Iranian presidential election.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/06/24/iranelexn050624.html

Unfortunately Blair is screwing the BBC!